Israeli Defense Minister to allow settlement expansion - settlers say it's not enough
The Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, is scheduled to announce that he will allow the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank by several hundred units before implementing a temporary six-month hold on further expansion. But Israeli settlers, who live on Palestinian territory in contravention of international law, have called the plan a 'mockery', arguing that they should have a right to expand without restrictions.
The municipal governments of a number of Israeli settlements have complained that the Israeli government has prevented them from expanding as much as they would like to, and are now criticizing Barak's announcement that 500 new units will be allowed. They argue that tens of thousands of new units should be allowed right now, with many more to come, in order to allow their settlements to expand.
All Israeli settlements are constructed on Palestinian land seized by military force from the indigenous Palestinian population, and are thus considered illegal under international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory. {more - uruk}
Settlers uproot olive trees from Palestinian land near Ramallah
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli settlers uprooted 50 olive trees near the Palestinian village of Al-Maghayir, north of the city of Ramallah on Monday afternoon, according to Israeli radio.
Israel’s military believes the attack was a preemptive response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to reduce construction in West Bank settlements. {more - uruk}
Only in Israel
White House Knocks Israel Over Settlements
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs released a statement strongly criticizing Israel's decision to approve the construction of hundreds of housing units in West Bank settlements.
The Obama administration has called on Israel to freeze all construction in the settlements, which are Israeli outposts set up on land claimed by Palestinians.
"We regret the reports of Israel's plans to approve additional settlement construction," Gibbs said. "Continued settlement activity is inconsistent with Israel's commitment under the Roadmap." {more}
Lip service with no teeth. So what is Obama and Congress going to do about it? Cut off the billions of free money and the armaments we give them each year? Yeah, right.
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