Egypt condemns Israel's approval of building new settlements in Palestinian occupied lands

 

CAIRO- 26 November 2020: Egypt condemned the Israeli authorities' approval of constructing new settlement units in Jabal Abu Ghneim in the occupied East Jerusalem, saying “this constitutes a grave violation of international law and UN resolutions.”

 

“The continued Israeli settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories undermine chances for the two-state solution, and obstruct efforts aimed at reviving the negotiation process with a view to reaching a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian cause, in addition to posing a threat to regional security and stability,” said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Hafez in a statement on Wednesday.

 

On November 16, 2020, Egypt condemned a decision by the Israeli authorities to issue a tender for the construction of 1,257 new settlement units in East Jerusalem.

 

The decision was announced by the Israel Land Authority earlier on the same day which decided to include the area of Givat Hamatos near East Jerusalem, despite international opposition to settlement plans.

 

The Israeli step comes as US President Donald Trump, who has backed Israeli settlement plans, is set to leave office within weeks. President-elect Joe Biden was against the Ramat Shlomo settlement when he was vice president under President Barack Obama.

 

In February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced reviving a highly controversial plan to construct 3,500 settlement units east of Jerusalem.