US, UK Condemn Latest Israeli Plan for Settler Housing as "Illegal, Illegitimate"

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/28351-us-uk-condemn-latest-israeli-plan-for-settler-housing-as-qillegal-illegitimateq



The United States and the United Kingdom on Friday both condemned the Israeli government’s plan to issue new tenders for housing units in the West Bank.

Israel published tenders on Friday for the construction of 450 new housing units in the West Bank, a move that critics denounced as a political gesture ahead of a March general election.

Ariel Rosenberg, spokesman for Israel's Housing Ministry, said the government was simply remarketing tenders that had failed to sell when they were initially offered last year.

Israel goes to the polls on March 17, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking a fourth term in office. A number of groups, including Netanyahu's own Likud party, are battling to secure pro-settler votes at the ballot.

"Once again, Palestinian lives, rights and lands are being violated in the service of Israeli election campaigns," said Hanan Ashrawi, a senior official of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

The tenders envisage construction in a number of locations, including near the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron, and several enclaves in the highly sensitive Jerusalem area.

In Washington, the US State Department criticized the planned construction.

[4now]

1. It is shameful to steal your neighbours land.

[oberliner]

2. That photo is from 12 years ago

Deceptive, to say the least.