Israeli Foreign Ministry: Regard settlements as 'legal under international law'

The judicial consultant called for the Israeli Foreign Ministry to adopt the recommendations of the Levy Committee Report on the settlements on the occupied West Bank.

According to activist Ellen Baker, it is time to adopt the committee’s recommendations to examine the “legality” of building settlements in the West Bank.

The committee is headed by retired Judge Edmund Levy, while Baker is a member. Its report states that the West Bank is not occupied and so, Jewish settlements built on the area are considered legal under international law.

Part of the committee’s recommendations was to balance the legality of settlements and allow the private construction of settlements.

In his interview on Israeli radio, Baker said that the Palestinian authorities have violated the Oslo Accords by signing international agreements and aligning themselves with Hamas.

According to him, the chances of renewing negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are slim, and there is no reason for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fear the reactions of the world in the event of him choosing to adopt the Levy recommendations.