Tag Archive for settlements

| June 18, 2020
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REVEALED: Following Obama betrayal at UNSC, Israel sought Putin’s protection

Why, 3.5 years after the Obama White House betrayal of Israel at UN Security Council, did PM Netanyahu tell “in a closed meeting” this week how he turned to Russian President Putin to stop a second American anti-Israeli resolution at the United Nations?

By LAHAV HARKOV

 

Three and a half years after UN Security Council Resolution 2334 condemning Israeli settlement activity passed thanks to an US abstention, as opposed to their usual veto, new details published this week raised new questions.

When the resolution passed in December 2016, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s representatives in the US were furious. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , , ,
| January 8, 2020
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Trump White House ‘disavows’ Carter administration anti-settlement policy

WATCH: US Secretary of State Pompeo said the Trump administration is “disavowing the deeply flawed” Carter-era memorandum, saying the US is returning to a more “balanced” policy, “It’s important to speak the truth…We are recognizing that settlements do not inherently violate international law.”

By LAHAV HARKOV

 

The US rejects a 1978 memo determining that Israeli settlements in the West Bank violate international law, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday in a video statement to the Kohelet Forum’s conference on his settlement policy.

Pompeo said the US is “disavowing the deeply flawed” the Carter-era memorandum, written by then-State Department Legal Adviser Herbert Hansell, which called all Israeli settlements beyond the 1949 armistice lines to be illegal. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| November 24, 2019
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106 House Dems Rally Demanding Pompeo Reverse Settlement Proclamation

Penning a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, 106 House Democrats press him to “immediately” reverse decision recognizing Jewish settlements in Judea & Samaria as legal.

By OMRI NAHMIAS

 

WASHINGTON – A large group of 106 House Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday urging him to reverse “immediately” his recent announcement regarding the legality of the settlements.

Led by Rep. Andy Levin of Michigan, the letter was signed by 12 committee chairs. The group includes veteran congress people such as Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-California), along with other high-profile representatives, such as Massachusetts Rep. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| June 9, 2017
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WATCH: St Dept Spokeswoman omits superfluous condemnation of planned Jewish construction

 

Breaking away from 50 years of the same ineffectual response to Jewish homes being built in Israel, the current State Department had no condemnation for Jerusalem’s approval of 2,600 new homes planned in Judea and Samaria – effectually ending a redundant White House policy.

By David Rosenberg

 

The Trump administration refrained from condemning Israel’s approval for 2,600 new housing units in Judea and Samaria this week, signaling a significant policy shift in Washington.

While every administration over the past half a century, from Lyndon Johnson through Barack Obama, has chastised Israel for the construction of civilian housing units in Judea and Samaria, the Trump White House made no comment as the first housing permits issued since the January 20th inauguration were approved. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| December 28, 2016
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PM Netanyahu: Obama & Kerry obsessed with settlements, silent on ‘root of conflict’

 

– Updated –

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s described the Obama administration’s focus on Israeli settlements as obsessive, calling Kerry’s comments “biased” due to their unwillingness to address the “root of the conflict.”
WATCH VIDEO – Netanyahu, “How can you make peace with someone who rejects your very existence?…This conflict is not about houses. This conflict is about Israel’s right to exist…It’s a shame that Secretary Kerry does not see this simple truth.”

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Israeli officials spanning across the political spectrum responded to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech after the American official outlined his vision for Middle East peace in Washington DC Wednesday. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| June 8, 2015
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Beijing refuses to allow Chinese nationals to work in West Bank

China’s refusal is delaying a deal on allowing thousands of Chinese construction workers in Israel because Jerusalem won’t promise to exclude them from the settlements.

By i24news

 

China is refusing to sign an agreement allowing its nationals to work in Israel, unless the Israeli government promises they will not be employed in the internationally disputed Jewish settlements of the West Bank.

C

Chinese construction workers – Photo: AFP /file

Israel has been trying to negotiate the agreement for a while and has so far refused to give in to the Chinese demand, according to The Marker, the economic daily of Haaretz. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| April 11, 2014
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Talks continuing as Israel hits Abbas’ PA with punitive economic sanctions

 

U.S. State Department official reports gaps narrowing between Israel & Palestinian Authority, but reports of agreement are premature.

By HERB KEINON, KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

 

 

Israeli and Palestinian officials did not reach an agreement on Thursday during their fourth session in a week to find a way out of the current impasse in the talks, but sources familiar with their discussions said they did agree to continue meeting in the days ahead.

Netanyahu and Abbas - Photo: REUTERS

Netanyahu and Abbas Photo: REUTERS

The sources’ comments came amid reports coming from Cairo – where Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Arab League officials – that there was a breakthrough in the talks that would enable a continuation of the talks past the April 29 deadline. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 2, 2014
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Finance Minister stops money transfers to settlements

 

 

Following Friday evening’s news magazine on Channel 2 suggesting funds intended for West Bank settlements were illegally transferred to Yesha Council for anti-gov’t campaigns, Minister Lapid orders his office to freeze funds transfers pending examination.

By Ynet

 

Finance Minister Yair Lapid ordered a halt on all money transfers to the settlements pending the clarification regarding their specific use, a statement on his behalf said Saturday evening.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid

Finance Minister Yair Lapid – Photo: Yair Sagi

The decision was made after Channel 2 television reported Friday evening that settlements were misusing government funds. Additional information also reached the finance minister, claiming funds were illegally transferred from the settlements to Yesha (Judea, Samaria and formerly Gaza) Council. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 2, 2014
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Denmark’s largest bank boycotts Israel’s Hapoalim over new home construction

Danske Bank accuses Bank Hapoalim of violating rules of int’l humanitarian law.

Danish bank already withdrew investments from 2 Israeli firms.

By

 

Denmark’s largest bank decided to blacklist Bank Hapoalim because of its involvement in the funding of settlement construction.

Construction site in the West Bank settlement of Modiin Illit.

Construction site in the West Bank settlement of Modiin Illit. – Photo: AP

Danske Bank added Bank Hapoalim to its list of companies in which the company cannot invest due to its corporate accountability rules.

In an announcement posted on its website, the bank stated that Bank Hapoalim was acting against the rules of international humanitarian law.

Israeli website Walla reported on the Danish bank’s decision earlier on Saturday. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| January 20, 2014
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PLO official blasts Australia’s FM for admitting Israeli settlements are legal

 

Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi urged the Australian government to clarify its official position regarding settlements’ legality.

By

 

The Palestine Liberation Organization on Monday condemned recent remarks from Australia’s foreign minister, who said Israeli settlements may not be illegal under international law.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. – Photo: AP

 

PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi urged the Australian government to clarify its official position regarding settlements and to act in accordance with international law and consensus, Palestinian media reported.

RELATED:

 

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who was in Israel last week to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, gave an interview to the Times of Israel, in which she cast doubt on the settlements’ illegality. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| January 1, 2014
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Abbas threatens int’l legal action against settlement construction

 

Just one day before Kerry’s return to Mid-East, PA President Abbas condemns Israeli settlement construction in West Bank & Jerusalem, saying ‘We will not remain silent as the settlement cancer continues to spreads’

By AFP

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas threatened diplomatic and legal action against the “cancer” of Israeli settlement building, a day ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Abbas with Kerry (Photo: AP)

Abbas with Kerry – Photo: AP

“We will not remain patient as the settlement cancer spreads, especially in (east) Jerusalem, and we will use our right as a UN observer state by taking political, diplomatic and legal action to stop it,” he said during a speech in Ramallah to mark the 49th anniversary of the founding of the Fatah party. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| November 25, 2013
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Report: Israel approved another 829 new West Bank homes

 

According to the activist organization, Peace Now, Israel approved additional construction of new homes north of Jerusalem.

Once again the Palestinians claim this is ‘yet another move to derail peace process.’

By AFP

 

 

Israeli authorities have given the go-ahead for the construction of 829 new settler homes in the West Bank, Peace Now said on Monday.

Settlement construction in Efrat - Photo: Ilan Arad Lowshot.com

Settlement construction in Efrat – Photo: Ilan Arad Lowshot.com

“The construction of 829 homes has been approved by a committee of the Israeli military in charge of the West Bank,” said Lior Amihai, a Peace Now activist.

“This is yet another move that threatens to derail the peace process,” Amihai told AFP. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| November 12, 2013
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White House demands Israel explain 20,000 new West Bank homes

 

U.S. State Dept. expressed ‘deep concern’ over newest construction tenders, saying White House does ‘not recognize the legitimacy of settlements.’

And once again, Palestinian President Abbas threatens to call off peace talks.

By , &

 

The U.S. State Department said it is “deeply concerned” by Israel’s  announcement over the tenders issued for the construction of 20,000 new settlement units in the West Bank and that it is demanding explanations from Israel.

Construction in Har Homa - AP

Construction in Har Homa. – Photo: AP

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Washington was taken by surprise and had no prior knowledge of the plans. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| October 26, 2013
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Deputy FM Elkin: EU ties with Israel will fray if settlements excluded

 

Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin: The EU’s breaking ties with Israel would be a larger mistake for Europe.

By REUTERS
 

 

JERUSALEM – Israel and the European Union will drift apart if they cannot compromise on new EU guidelines covering settlements beyond the Green Line that could damage research and trade ties, Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin told Reuters.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ze'ev Elkin.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin. – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

The two sides must overcome the dispute – focused on territory that Palestinians want for a state – before the end of November, when a multi-million dollar EU research program called Horizon 2020 is due to be finalized.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| June 14, 2013
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UN’s Chief Again Calls Israeli Settlements ‘illegal’

 

UN’s Ban: Israel is again undermining progress toward two-state solution.

By MICHAEL WILNER, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

 

 

 

WASHINGTON — United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon remains “deeply concerned” over plans to construct hundreds of new housing units in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, his spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.

The Itamar settlement in the West Bank.

The Itamar settlement in the West Bank. – Photo: Abed Omar Qusini / Reuters

“These are unhelpful decisions that undermine progress towards the two-state solution,” the statement reads. “They constitute a deeply worrisome trend at a moment of ongoing efforts to re-launch Ipeace negotiations.”

The note referred specifically to the settlement of Itamar– “deep into the West Bank,” it says– as well as the 1,000 new settlement units planned in east Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
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