UN: Israel defied call to stop settlements

AMMAN/NEW YORK: Israel took no steps to comply with a Security Council call to stop all settlement activity in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and instead authorized “a high rate” of settlement expansions in violation of international law, the UN has said.

UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov told the council the large number of settlement announcements and legislation action by Israel indicate “a clear intent to continue expanding the settlement enterprise in the occupied Palestinian territory.”

He was delivering the first report to the council on implementation of the resolution it adopted in December condemning Israeli settlements as a “flagrant violation” of international law. The resolution was a striking rupture with past practice by President Barack Obama who had the US abstain rather than veto the measure as presidentelect Donald Trump demanded.

The resolution didn’t impose sanctions on Israel, so the council isn’t called on to take any action. But it does enshrine the world’s disapproval of the settlements.

Hussam Zomlot, strategic adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told Arab News that the international community must switch from issuing statements and resolutions to implementing them with regard to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

“We need deeds, not words. The UN has issued dozens of resolutions and statements condemning the Israeli occupation. None of those resolutions has been put into effect. Israeli arrogance must be addressed. We call on the international community and the peace-loving countries to stand with the just Palestinian demand to have their own independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Zomlot said.

He underlined that the UN resolution 2334, includes two important points that if implemented would make Israel submit to the will of the international community.

“The resolution stipulates a mechanism to be put in place headed by the UN secretary-general to ensure that Israel is complying with the UN decision and a ‘predict report’ would be prepared on Israeli’s com- pliance. The other important point calls on the UN member states to boycott any products coming from the Israeli settlements,” Zomlot said.

Mladenov, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, reiterated that the UN “considers all settlement activities to be illegal under international law and one of the main obstacles to peace.”