Ban Slams Bibi’s Support for Expanding Settlements in WB
Local Editor
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon slammed "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his support for the Tel Aviv regime's expropriation of Palestinian territories and expansion of illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank.
On Thursday, Ban told the Security Council during a meeting on the "Israeli"-Palestinian conflict that "Israel's" construction of settlement outposts on land earmarked for a future independent Palestinian state is illegal, and the "Israeli" military's control over Palestinian territories must be brought to an end.
"Let me be absolutely clear: settlements are illegal under international law. The occupation, stifling and oppressive, must end," he said.
The UN chief further noted that the settlement of around a million "Israelis" in Palestinian territories is "diametrically opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state."
Ban further took a swipe at Netanyahu over the assertion that opposition to settlements was tantamount to "ethnic cleansing."
"I am disturbed by a recent statement by "Israel's" prime minister portraying those who oppose settlement expansion as supporters of ethnic cleansing. This is unacceptable and outrageous," the UN secretary general pointed out.
Last week, Netanyahu claimed in a video posted on his Facebook page that the settlements built across the occupied West Bank do not constitute "obstacles" to an eventual peace agreement with the Palestinians, and that he has "always been perplexed" about the related criticisms.
He further went on to allege that the Palestinian leadership sought a Palestinian state on the condition that it was "a state without Jews," and that this could be described as "ethnic cleansing."
More than half a million "Israelis" live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 "Israeli" occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds.
Much of the international community regards the "Israeli" settlements as illegal because the territories they are built on were captured by "Israel" in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
Nevertheless, the "Israeli" apartheid regime continues to build more settlements and expand the existing ones.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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