Middle East: Israel approves controversial West Bank resolution | EUROtoday

According to media stories, the Israeli authorities has accepted a extremely controversial proposal that might make it simpler for Israeli settlers to buy land within the West Bank. The federal authorities had already sharply criticized a corresponding earlier resolution by the Israeli safety cupboard. The transfer may have far-reaching penalties for the Palestinian inhabitants within the West Bank.

Criticism of the federal authorities

The resolution, which permits Israeli personal people to purchase land within the West Bank and transfers elements of the administration of the West Bank to civilian Israeli authorities, “contradicts Israel’s obligations under international law,” a spokesman for the Foreign Office in Berlin just lately criticized.

It represents “a further step towards a de facto annexation.” Israel continues to be an occupying energy within the West Bank, “and as an occupying power it is against international law to build settlements,” added the spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry. The switch of sure administrative actions to civilian Israeli authorities additionally contradicts the short-term nature of an occupation.

Foreign Ministry speaks of clarification of property rights

However, the Israeli Foreign Ministry spoke of “false information”. The authorities had solely accepted an “administrative measure in the area of ​​civil and property law,” the assertion stated. “This measure is intended to bring order to property registration procedures and enable transparent and thorough clarification of rights in order to resolve legal disputes.”

Ultra-right ministers have a good time resolution

According to the Israeli TV channel N12, Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke of a “significant security and administrative policy step aimed at ensuring the State of Israel’s full control, assertiveness and freedom of action in the area.”

The right-wing extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated: “We are continuing the revolution of settlement policy and control over all parts of our country.” For the primary time for the reason that Six-Day War in 1967, “we are bringing order and governance back to the management of the land in Judea and Samaria (West Bank),” he stated, in response to the TV station.

Israel conquered, amongst different issues, the West Bank and East Jerusalem within the Six-Day War in 1967. Today, round 700,000 Israeli settlers stay there amongst three million Palestinians. The Palestinians declare the areas for their very own state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Sharp criticism of Peace Now

The Israeli group Peace Now stated in response to the brand new resolution: “The government has authorized a massive theft of land in the West Bank – on the way to a de facto annexation, completely contrary to the will of the people and contrary to Israeli interests.” The group additional criticized: “This is a radical and irresponsible government that ignores international law that prohibits such regulations, ignores the criticism of friendly states and is dragging us into catastrophe.”