Ki-moon: "Israeli settlements illegal"

Thursday September 10, 2009 01:18 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

United Nations Secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, stated Wednesday that he is deeply concerned over Israel’s decision to build new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, and added that such constructions are illegal and violate the International Law and the Road Map peace Plan.

He called on Israel to end all of its settlements activities in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem. 

The UN secretary-general further stated that Israel must also stop what it calls natural growth of settlements, and to act positively while international efforts are being made to resume the stalled peace process. 

The statements Ki-moon came after Israel decided on Monday to build 455 homes for Jewish settlers in the West bank, defying calls from its main ally, the United State. 

 Also on Wednesday, E.U External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, slammed the ongoing construction of settlements and stated that this issue is the main obstacle to the peace process. 

 Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported that Palestinian Chief Negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, said that the American credibility is at stake, as it is unable to oblige Israel to stop its illegal settlement activities in the occupied territories. 

Erekat added that this inability to exert real pressure on Israel makes the Arab and Muslim worlds suspicious of the American ability to make Israel withdraw to the 1967 borders or evacuate its settlements. 

Egypt: "Freezing settlement activities does not equal full normalization with Israel"

Thursday September 10, 2009 01:32 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated Wednesday that freezing Israel’s settlements activities (which are all illegal) in the occupied territories, does not mean that the Arab will offer Israel full normalization.

Husam Zaki - Hadath.net

Ministry’s spokesperson, Husam Zaki, said that the International obliges Israel to halt its settlement activities, and that the Arab stance in this regard in a legitimate issue as settlements are illegal and violate the International Law. 

He added that settlement freeze should by all means include freezing settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, and that Israel should be committed to the international law and the Road Map Peace Plan. 

On the ground, Israel continues to construct hundreds of homes for Jewish settlers defying the United States and the International Community. 

Israel recently decided to construct 450 houses for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, while Israeli leaders stated that Israel has the right to build and that such activities should not obstruct peace talks.

PCHR: Settlement construction war crime

[ 09/09/2009 - 12:43 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Palestinian center for human rights (PCHR) has said that the world community's submissiveness toward the Israeli occupation authority's (IOA) arrogance gave it the audacity to commit more crimes against human rights.

The center in a report on Wednesday said that the new IOA colonialist schemes stipulated the establishment of more settlements in the West Bank, which, the center underlined, constituted a war crime according to the international laws.

The PCHR asked the European countries to boycott the Israeli goods especially those manufactured in the occupied Palestinian lands.

It noted that the IOA had recently laid the cornerstone of a new settlement suburb in the area called E-1 between occupied Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim settlement, which is established on West Bank land.

Illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank torch Palestinian cars, stone homes near Nablus

Published yesterday 21:47 Nablus – Ma’an –

Illegal Israeli settlers set fire to two cars and threw stones at several houses in the Nablus-area village of Asira Al-Shamaliyya Wednesday night, officials said.

Ghassan Doghlus, in charge of monitoring settler activity in the northern West Bank, said one of the cars belonged to Adel Al-Muhtasseb, and that settlers also stoned homes in the village of Urif, south of Nablus.

While no injuries were reported, damage to the two cars was severe.

Illegal Israeli settlers destroy walls of partially built home near WB settlement

Published yesterday (updated) 09/09/2009 17:57

Nablus - Ma'an -

Dozens of illegal Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian homes in the village of Urif south of Nablus on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Ghassan Daghlas, Palestinian official following Israeli settlement activities in the northern West Bank, of the settlers entered a building currently under construction and destroyed the walls. He said the building is owned by Munir Al-Noury, and is located near the Yitzhar settlement.

Daghlas said no casualties have been reported, but the home had been structurally compromised.

Settlers burn two vehicles, attack homes near Nablus

Thursday September 10, 2009 00:56 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

A group of fundamental settlers attacked on Wednesday Asseera Al-Qibliyya village, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, torched two vehicles and hurled stones at a number of homes.

Ghassan Douglas, head of the settlements’ file in the northern part of the West Bank, reported that the armed settlers attacked several homes and torched the two vehicles, while Israeli soldiers failed to intervene and stop the attack.

This attack came shortly after fundamental settlers of the Yitzhar illegal settlement invaded on Wednesday Oreef village, south of Nablus, and attacked several residents, vehicles and homes.

The settlers also demolished the wall of a home which is still under construction. The home belongs to Moneer Al- Noury.