The official spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, stated that “all settlement activities are illegal and contrary to international legitimacy and law.” He emphasized that the American ambassador’s pro-settlement statements are rejected and condemned, as they contradict the international consensus affirmed by UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which considers all settlements illegal, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Abu Rudeineh added that “no one is authorized to grant legitimacy to the occupation and its policies.” He demanded that the American administration fully adhere to international law and international legitimacy resolutions if it is serious about stopping violence and escalation and achieving a just and lasting peace in the region. He concluded by saying that “recognizing the legitimate Palestinian rights is the only way to achieve peace and security for all.”
Earlier, the Israeli government announced the construction and rehabilitation of 19 new settlements throughout the West Bank. Israeli sources confirmed that the Israeli security cabinet, called “the cabinet,” approved the construction and rehabilitation of these settlements. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz initiated the project during a cabinet session, which includes the decision to rebuild the settler outposts of “Ganim” and “Kadim” after 20 years of being evacuated in the West Bank.
An Israeli channel described the approval of the settlement construction as a “significant political step,” expanding Israeli settlement in the West Bank. In the same context, Israeli media previously reported that “the Israeli army intends to build a wall in the Jordan Valley to separate settlements from Palestinian villages and isolate these villages from each other.”
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that plans are underway to construct a wall in the heart of the Jordan Valley, with the planned wall reaching 22 kilometers in length and 50 meters in width. It is noteworthy that the West Bank and Jerusalem are witnessing escalating tensions with ongoing Israeli military operations, including raids, house demolitions, and arrests. At the same time, Israel is accused of “targeting its security apparatus and undermining its efforts to achieve security.”
This coincides with the Gaza truce, which was reached after nearly two years of war that resulted in more than 70,000 Palestinian deaths and approximately 170,000 injuries.
