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<h1 class="article-title">Israel Approves Plan to ‘Legalize’
Colonial Outposts and Construct Thousands More Units</h1>
<div class="article-subtitledetails">
<span class="article-details">
<span class="article-detail"><img class="icon"
src="cid:part1.07070405.05050003@freedomarchives.org"
alt="author"> Tuesday November 10, 2015 06:02</span><span
class="article-detail"><img class="icon"
src="cid:part2.04030000.01040008@freedomarchives.org"
alt="author"> by Saed Bannoura <br>
<b><small><small><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.imemc.org/article/73785">http://www.imemc.org/article/73785</a></small></small></b><br>
</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="article-intro">In yet another decision that
violates International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, the
Higher Construction and Planning Committee of the Israeli ‘Civil
Administration Office’ has approved a construction plan to
‘legalize’ two colonial outposts in Ramallah, in addition to
building 2200 more units. </blockquote>
The Israeli plan includes the approval of a structural map for the
Ma'ale Mikhmas illegal colony, built on illegally seized Palestinian
lands east of Ramallah. The plan also calls for the construction of
2200 new units, and the ‘legalizing’ two outposts (this would make
them legal under Israeli law, but they remain a direct violation of
international law).<br>
<br>
The plan, originally submitted in 2014 and approved by Israeli
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon last month, would lead to the
construction of an additional 800 units in Ma'ale Mikhmas by the
year 2030 and 300 units in Kokhav HaShahar. In total, the plan
includes the construction of at least 2200 units in Kokhav HaShahar,
Ramonim, Ma’ale Mikhmas and Psagot, to be completed by 2030. <br>
<br>
The plan also includes the construction of new units in Tel Zion,
and the area south of Ofra colony, in the northern part of the West
Bank.<br>
<br>
Israeli daily Haaretz said the approval comes ahead of a hearing in
the High Court of Justice, scheduled for Wednesday, to look into a
petition submitted by Yesh Din Israeli organization, on behalf of
Palestinian land owners, calling for the removal of Mitzpeh Danny
illegal outpost, built on private Palestinian property. <br>
<br>
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli plans, and
considered it part of the comprehensive Israeli escalation, and
crimes, against the Palestinian people, in addition to directly
violating all related resolutions and agreements. <br>
<br>
The Ministry added that Israeli plans would place “further obstacles
in the efforts to resume direct peace talks to reach a comprehensive
settlement of the conflict, by achieving the two-state solution.”<br>
<br>
It stated that the timing of the new plan, ahead of the planned
meeting between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu places further tensions and obstacles that would
further obstruction the conducts of the Quartet Committee (The
United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations).<br>
<br>
“Israel continues to commit its crimes with impunity, acting as a
state that is above International Law,” the Ministry said,
“Settlements are illegal, and are considered war crimes under
International Law, signed agreements and the Fourth Geneva
Conventions.”<br>
<br>
The Ministry said Israel’s colonies in occupied Palestine are among
the issues recently presented to the International Criminal Court. <br>
<br>
It called on the Quartet Committee and the UN Security Council to
require Israel to halt its violations, and abide by international
law, in addition to stopping the escalating Israeli crimes and
violations against the Palestinian people, and against their lands
and holy sites.<br>
<br>
The Ministry also called on the Security Council to provide the
Palestinians, who are living under an illegal and immoral Israel
occupation, with the necessary international protection.<br>
<br>
While the number of Jewish settlers illegally living in the West
Bank and Jerusalem by the end of 2013 was 350,000, the current
number of settlers is around 54,.000, the Israeli Information Center
for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem) said. <br>
<br>
It added that Israel established 125 settlements, dubbing them as
“communities,” in the West Bank, in the period between 1967 and late
2013. <br>
<br>
In addition, more than 100 colonial outposts were established
without authorization from the Israeli government, yet these
outposts received funding and support from government ministries
despite their 'illegal' status. The Israeli government also directly
funded and supported colonial outposts in the heart of Palestinian
neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
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