Palestine minister: US responsible for Israel settlement expansion

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki criticised the US government for “giving the greenlight” to Israel to do “whatever it wants with Palestinian land”, in regards to Israeli announcements of plans to build over 1,000 new illegal settlement units in the occupied West Bank.

Israel’s announcement of its plans to build 1,122 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank was “one outcome of US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital”.

Al-Malki added that the Israeli decision was “also a result of the international community’s failure to hold Israel accountable for its acts, particularly with regard to settlement construction.”

Read: EU report documents, criticises ongoing Israel settlement expansion

According to Wafa, he expressed concern that the international community was afraid to take a stand on settlements, which are illegal under international law, because of recent US threats to cut aid to states and organisations who defy pro-Israel American policies.

The minister stressed that the “Palestinian leadership cannot rely on anyone anymore”, though it will “continue to struggle against Israel’s ongoing violations on the political, diplomatic and legal fronts.”