UN official reiterates illegality of Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank

Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process speaks to press at Security Council stakeout at UN Headquarters [Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images]

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process reiterated on Wednesday the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Tor Wennesland made his comment to the UN Security Council as he stressed the importance of ending the occupation and resolving the conflict in pursuit of the two-state solution.

Wennesland pointed out that the Israeli authorities have advanced plans for 6,300 settlement units in Area C of the occupied West Bank, and approximately 3,580 settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem. He pointed to the Israeli government’s administrative actions that have likely expedited settlement expansion.

“In a continuing trend, many Palestinians, including children, have left their communities citing violence by [illegal] settlers and shrinking grazing land,” he said. “Expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are a violation of international law and must cease.”

READ: UN: 1,100 Palestinians displaced in 2022 by Jewish settlers in West Bank

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