2013
Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Israeli Settlements
The Secretary-General deplores the announcements today of further Israeli settlement plans in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Settlement activity is contrary to international law and constitutes an obstacle to peace. Any measures that prejudge final status issues will not be recognised by the international community.
Dr. Ashrawi on the latest Israeli settlement announcements
Referring to the latest Israeli settlement announcement PLO Executive Committee Member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, declared:
“Israel is willfully and flagrantly violating international law and the requirements for peace in its latest escalation of settlements expansion. This includes a total of 3,700 new units at Ramat Shlomo settlement (Jerusalem District), 296 in Beit El settlement (Ramallah District), 162 in Yakir settlement (Qalqilya District), 95 units in Shilo settlement (Nablus District) and 31 units in Al Mog settlement (Jericho and the Jordan Valley District). The announcements also include a parking lot for settlers’ use in Silwan and a national park nearby the Mount Scopus – Wadi El Joz area, both in Occupied East Jerusalem.”
Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the latest Israeli announcement of settlement plans
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:
"After Wednesday's announcements by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of the
Interior about renewed plans for Israeli settlements, I would like to recall that, on 27
September, the Middle East Quartet called on all parties to refrain from actions that
undermine trust or prejudge final status issues.
Deals linked to settlements in occupied territories could be ‘criminal,’ UN expert warns
30 October 2013 – An independent United Nations human rights expert today warned that financial institutions and real estate companies involved with housing settlements in occupied Palestinian territory – which are considered illegal under international law – may be held criminally accountable.
Addressing journalists at UN Headquarters, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Richard Falk, reiterated that the settlements are unlawful according to the Fourth Geneva Convention.
HRW lashes out at Israeli 'harassment' of Palestinian prisoner advocacy group
Human Rights Watch has called on the Israeli military to stop harassing Addammeer, an advocacy group for Palestinian prisoners. The NGO has complained about the military targeting the group and imposing restrictions on it without evidence.
Addameer’s main functions are to provide legal aid to prisoners held by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, conduct research and empower prisoners and their lawyers with knowledge in international law. But the organization is being routinely prosecuted for its stance without much substantiation of claims, HRW reported.
Dr. Ashrawi denounces Israeli reports that Palestinians agreed to settlement expansion in exchange for prisoners’ release
PLO Executive Committee member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi vehemently denied Israeli reports that with every group of prisoners released, the Israeli government would issue permits for more settlement units:
“Such reports are fabricated and malicious; the Palestinian side never agreed to such an exchange; on the contrary, Palestinian prisoners should have been released in compliance with earlier signed agreements. The only linkage with the release of prisoners that the President approved is in delaying the pursuit of UN membership in international agencies and organizations.”
Palestinians reach out to 50+ nations including Australia calling for economic boycott of Israeli settlers
The Palestinian Authority is ramping up its diplomatic efforts against Israeli settlements in the territories it occupied in the 1967 war. It has called on 50 countries around the world to freeze business dealings and withdraw investments.
In letters to countries in Latin America and Europe, as well as to South Africa, Australia, Japan and South Korea, the Palestinian Authority asked governments to put pressure on local companies and discourage any relations with the Israeli settlements, Muhammad Shtayyeh, a senior Palestinian official, told the Financial Times.
The messages also requested that Israeli companies with connections to the settlements are barred from doing business in those countries. Citizens of those countries should be advised to abandon the settlements, because staying there is illegal, the Palestinian Authority said.
The campaign for an economic boycott was also given a boost by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his trip to Europe.
Pull out of settlements: Abbas tells Western firms
President Mahmoud Abbas has called on Western companies to respect the international law by pulling out of settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Drastic Rise in Construction in the Settlements
January-June 2013 – Summary of the First Half of 2013:
70% rise in construction in the settlements; 86% without tenders
The following data is based on Peace Now’s survey of aerial photos and a count of all units that started/ended to be built in each settlement.
Construction Starts: 70% rise in construction starts compared to the equivalent period last year. 1,708 units (in January-June 2013) 180 of them in illegal outposts, vs. 995 (in January-June 2012).
Units Completed: The construction of 1,794 housing units ended.
Units Under Construction: 2,840 housing units were under construction during this period.
Tony Blair optimistic about economic plan for Palestinian territories
Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, said a $4bn economic plan being drafted alongside Arab-Israeli peace negotiations will be ready to launch within weeks but he acknowledged that securing Israeli approval for investments in areas under its administrative control would be “tough”.