The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a communiqué that Israel’s recent decision to authorize the construction of 1,300 Palestinian homes in Area C of the West Bank is aimed at easing critics of the occupation.

In this regard, the Foreign Ministry affirmed that “the occupying authorities are also trying to give more legitimacy and cover up the theft of Palestinian lands.”

The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly rejected this “colonial exchange” by Israel, and recalled that according to international regulations, the West Bank becomes an integral part of the future Palestinian State and therefore “the occupying power has no right to make any change there.”

Precisely, the expansion of the Israeli settlements caused last week a wave of international condemnations and strong questioning by the parties that make up the Israeli governmental alliance, inclulding the Meretz and Labor parties.

The Arab League, the United Nations, the European Union, even the United States, a close ally of Tel Aviv, are opposed to that occupation.

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