UN slams Israeli president’s support for annexing settlements

The United Nations yesterday criticised Israeli President Reuven Rivlin’s support for the application of Israeli sovereignty over major settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank, and the granting of Israeli citizenship for Palestinians living near the settlement blocs.

Deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, told reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York: “We support the two-state solution and we believe that any unilateral act threatens the achievement of the principle of two-state solution.”

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During a meeting with settlers in Jerusalem on Monday, Rivlin called the settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank “an integral part of the Land of Israel”.

The UN does not recognise the Israeli settlement activities in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem.

The Israeli president has reiterated his rejection of the land grab law which was approved by the Knesset last week.