Palestinians slam Israel’s plan to build houses in W Bank
14 Aug 2013 3:39 AM IST
Israel’s recent decision to build 1,200 housing units on its occupied lands in east Jerusalem and the West Bank has outraged the Palestinian officials, who said on Sunday that the step would cast a shadow over direct peace talks between the two sides.
Israel, which has entered a new round of peace talks with the Palestinians, on Sunday announced invitation for bids to build 1,200 housing units in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, Xinhua reported.
The Palestinians largely condemned the Israeli decision. Mohamed Ishtaya, a Palestinian negotiator, said the move ‘is a deliberate blow on the international and US efforts exerted to achieve peace in the region’.
He added that ‘peace and settlements are contradictory and can never meet’. Halting settlement was a major Palestinian demand to resume the stalled peace talks, he stressed.
US State Department last week announced that the second round of direct peace talks would be held between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Jerusalem Wednesday.
The Palestinians agreed to resume the talks after Israel agreed to free 104 Palestinian prisoners from its jails.
The Palestinians are hoping that US Secretary of State John Kerry would ask the Israeli government to end settlement expanding.
Israel, which has entered a new round of peace talks with the Palestinians, on Sunday announced invitation for bids to build 1,200 housing units in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, Xinhua reported.
The Palestinians largely condemned the Israeli decision. Mohamed Ishtaya, a Palestinian negotiator, said the move ‘is a deliberate blow on the international and US efforts exerted to achieve peace in the region’.
He added that ‘peace and settlements are contradictory and can never meet’. Halting settlement was a major Palestinian demand to resume the stalled peace talks, he stressed.
US State Department last week announced that the second round of direct peace talks would be held between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Jerusalem Wednesday.
The Palestinians agreed to resume the talks after Israel agreed to free 104 Palestinian prisoners from its jails.
The Palestinians are hoping that US Secretary of State John Kerry would ask the Israeli government to end settlement expanding.
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