Israel Okays 22 New Illegal Settlements in West Bank
By Yadnom Awu Asaba
Israel, today publicly announced the approval for the construction of 22 settlements on the occupied West Bank,Palestine.
The move is the single biggest such effort by the Jewish state which has come into the global radar of late for its policies in the area and Gaza .
A formal decision on the subject was taken last week at the regular session of the cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, the formal announcement was made today , and it comes against the backdrop of mounting global criticisms of Israel ‘s military campaign in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank, as well as its controversial humanitarian engagements in the embattled enclave.
The approval for the 22 New settlements add to the existing 180 others in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
In all, Israel has a total of 356 illegal settlements in all of Palestine, though all of them remain illegal under international law and by the tenets of the resolutions of the United Nations, UN.
Israel has come under intense diplomatic pressure from multiple interests, including its traditional allies,some of which recently threatened to sanction it if it did not end its military onslaught on Gaza and the West Bank, as well as its 80- day blockade of humanitarian aid into the strip.
France, Canada and Britain, traditional allies of Israel, in a recent joint statement, called out Israel, and called its actions in Gaza and the West Bank as appalling.
Israel had dismissed all criticisms against it as Anti-Semitism, which he said rewards terrorism.
