Erekat calls on international community to impose sanctions on Israel

The Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee, Saeb Erekat, stated that the announcement of the construction of more illegal settlement units in the occupied Palestinian land and the commitment of the occupation government to colonial expansion and apartheid are the result of American encouragement of the occupation’s violations.

During a statement he issued on Thursday, he stressed that the US Department of State’s refusal to condemn such illegal colonial plans allows Tel Aviv to pursuit its violations of international law that threaten peace and security in our region.

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Erekat called for holding Israel accountable, referring to the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations issued last week regarding providing international protection for the Palestinian people.

Erekat said:

“The report stated that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable. We praise this report and agree with it, for the occupation’s settlement and colonial expansion in occupied Palestine is not only a severe violation of international humanitarian law but also a war crime that wouldn’t have taken place without the international community granting Israel immunity and treating it as a state above the law.”

The Secretary-General called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel until it would recognise and fulfil its obligations under international law and UN resolutions.