The Palestinian Foreign Ministry yesterday condemned the Israeli government’s decision to approve the building of 2,200 new housing units in two settlements near the city of Ramallah and the recognition of two Jewish outposts.
“The decision comes as part of the overall Israeli escalation policy and aggression against the Palestinian people and constitute a flagrant challenge to the international community’s will and the international legitimacy resolutions,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The decision coincides with US President Barack Obama’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Netanyahu arrived in the United States yesterday morning on a three day visit where he will meet Obama as well as US officials and representatives of the Jewish community in Washington.
The ministry’s statement called on the International Quartet Committee and the UN Security Council to “assume their responsibilities and rein in the Israeli government’s policies”.
The Israeli media reported that Israel’s planning committee in the West Bank approved the construction of about 2,200 new housing units in Ma’aleh Michmash settlement complex, east of Ramallah, and a plan to erect two settlement outposts in the area.
The Israeli daily Haaretz said the move was to pre-empt legal action by Palestinians and rights groups to evacuate the sites.
The Palestinian Authority considers the settlements as a stumbling block in any plans for negotiations for a two-state solution.