Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh warned that Israel could advance plans to build settlements on Palestinian lands as part of its electoral campaigns.
Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting held in Ramallah, Shtayyeh stressed that as Israel gets ready to hold its fourth general elections, its plans to build more settlements will grow.
In this context, Shtayyeh urged the international community to halt Israel's illegal settlement expansion activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“The international community should oblige the Israeli occupying regime to stop its colonial projects in the Palestinian territory, and to activate United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 since it reflects the international will against settlements,” Shtayyeh said.
He stressed that Israel’s latest plan to approve the construction of thousands of new settler unites on the grounds of the formerly Jerusalem Airport in Qalandia, north of occupied East Jerusalem is a “flagrant disregard” for international law, which considers all Israeli settlement activity illegal.
Shtayyeh affirmed that these activities are taking place under the cover-of the time that remained for the administration of US President Donald Trump in office.
The Palestinian official further called for UN protection from Israeli settler attacks in the occupied West Bank.
“It is worrying that the settler aggression is happening under the watch and protection of the Israeli army,” he noted.
“We call on UN bodies in Palestine to establish protection teams to shield our people against these settler attacks.”
