’Israel’ to Build 1,000 Illegal Settler Units in East al-Quds

Local Editor

"Israel" plans to build 1,000 new settler units in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), the "Israeli" government announced on Thursday, despite international criticism over the construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian territories.

Danny Seidemann, director of al-Quds settlement watchdog Terrestrial Jerusalem, stated on Wednesday that contracts for 300 homes in the northeastern settlement of Ramot were signed and another 797 plots were to be offered for sale in the southern settlement of Gilo.

He said that both are in mainly-Arab areas of the holy city which were occupied by "Israel" in the 1967 Six-Day war then annexed, in a move still unrecognized by the international community.

The "Israeli" regime had confiscated 1,977 acres of Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank for its settlement activity during 2012.

The settlements were claimed to be approved by "military order," the "Israeli" daily Haaretz reported on May 27.

Moreover, "Israeli" authorities said that construction in al-Quds comes within a government plan to build 80,000 units by 2014.

More than half a million "Israelis" live in over 120 illegal settlements built since "Israel's" occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.

Also, Islamic-Christian Commission for support of al-Quds and holy sites has warned on Thursday, of the "Israeli" plan to continue with the construction plans in the Palestinian occupied territories, including al-Quds.

Earlier this week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stated on Monday that "Israel" commits serious Human Rights violations, calling on Tel Aviv to cease settlement construction.

Pillay further stated that "Israel" commits direct and serious violations of International Law.

The United Nations and most countries regard the "Israeli" settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by "Israel" in the war of 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.

Source: News Agencies, edited by website team