Occupied Jerusalem, April 30 (SANA) The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned an Israeli decision to build 126 new settlement units in the settlement of Sanur, located on land belonging to Jenin Governorate in the northern West Bank.
In a statement issued Wednesday and reported by the Palestinian News Agency WAFA, the ministry said the move forms part of what it described as systematic plans to expand and consolidate settlement activity in occupied Palestinian territory.
The ministry stated that Israeli authorities “have no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian land,” adding that all settlement activities are illegal, null and void, and carry no legal effect under international law and international humanitarian law.
It said continued settlement expansion is intended to undermine prospects for peace, displace Palestinians and deepen the system of apartheid, calling on the international community, the UN Security Council and states party to the Geneva Conventions to assume their legal and moral responsibilities.
The ministry urged urgent and binding international measures, including sanctions, to compel Israel to halt settlement projects and to provide international protection for Palestinians.
Separately, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari warned during a Security Council briefing on Tuesday of an accelerating pace of settlement activity and widespread settler violence.
He pointed to plans by Israeli authorities to build 1,080 new settlement units within a single month, warning that the expansion threatens Palestinian presence and worsens economic conditions and insecurity, particularly in refugee camps.
N.J/ABD
