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Palestinians condemn decision to build settlement units in east Jerusalem

Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

A senior Palestinian official on Tuesday condemned an Israeli decision to build 77 housing units in east Jerusalem.

"Continuing settlement building in the occupied eastern part of Jerusalem is a clear Israeli challenge to the international law and will," said Hanan Ashrawi, of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Ashrawi, who heads the PLO media department, said in a press statement that "the Israeli plans of expanding settlements clearly show Israel's crimes and its policy of expansion and stealing the lands."

She slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for keeping his policy "based on stealing the Palestinian lands."

"Netanyahu is determined to implement his fanatic program he presented before the elections," Ashrawi said. "The policy of Netanyahu is a provocation and a challenge to the laws of the international community and shows that he is not interested in making peace at all."

Palestine became a member of the International Criminal Court in The Hague on April 1. Palestinian officials say they are preparing a full case against Israel for its endless expansion of settlements. Endit