The Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) passed a law that would legalize nearly four million homes by Israeli settlers, illegally built in the Palestinian territories on the West Bank of the Jordan river. About it reports Reuters.
For the bill voted 60 deputies, against — 52. The attorney General of Israel, away Mandelblit called the Parliament’s decision unconstitutional and refused to speak in his defence in the Supreme court of the country.
According to Reuters, despite the fact that the document was supported by the ruling coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unofficially opposed its adoption, fearing that the law will be the basis for prosecution by the International criminal court in the Hague. Netanyahu urged lawmakers to postpone voting until its meeting with the President of the United States Donald trump is scheduled for February 15.
The representative of the Palestine liberation Organization Hanan Ashrawi said that the adoption of the law gives Israeli settlers the green light to the occupation of land, and accused the Netanyahu government in the “destruction of the foundations of coexistence,” Palestine and Israel.
The UN special envoy for the middle East peace process Nikolay Mladenov said that the law “will have far-reaching legal consequences for Israel and will greatly reduce the prospects for Arab-Israeli reconciliation.”
February 3, the administration of U.S. President Donald trump expressed concerns regarding the construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories of the West Bank of the Jordan river. Two days earlier, Netanyahu announced the construction of three thousand homes in the West Bank of the Jordan river.
Earlier, Netanyahu lifted a ban on construction of houses in East Jerusalem. “You don’t need to agree on the construction of Jewish neighborhoods. We will build where they want and how they want,” said he.
23 December 2016 the UN security Council demanded that Israel cease construction of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The resolution was supported by all security Council members except the US, which abstained. Israel to implement the decision refused.