Dr. Erekat: “Some people in Israel continue to believe that the endgame for negotiations should not be peace but further colonization”

“The Israeli Occupation Municipality, along with the Israeli Housing Ministry in Jerusalem, have reaffirmed their commitment to colonization by trying to sabotage civilized attempts to achieve a two-state solution”

said Chief Palestinian Negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat, referring to the recently announced project to build a new Israeli settlement in Jabal Moukabber, southern Jerusalem.

The settlement, consisting of 63 settlement units, will be built on land confiscated from the people of Jabal Moukabber, Sur Baher and Eam Laisun.

“Some people in Israel continue to believe that the endgame for negotiations should not be peace but rather, further colonization. We call upon all parties that had vigorously advocated for the resumption of negotiations to do whatever is needed to block and to punish the latest decisions made by the Israeli government and the Occupation Municipality in Jerusalem.” said Dr. Erekat.

To conclude, Dr. Erekat said that “we hope that the Israeli government understands that their impunity is evaporating and that it is in Israel’s interest to go for justice and peace rather settlements and Apartheid. Settlement construction shows a lack of seriousness towards the idea of a Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace and security. We will be contacting different members within the international community in order to make clear to those who are trying to sabotage our efforts that settlement construction has a price and that this price will continue to grow.”