The Kingdom of Bahrain strongly condemned today Israel’s decision to issue tenders for the construction of new settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories following the Israeli parliament’s, the Knesset, approval of a bill allowing the return of settlers to four settlements in the occupied northern West Bank that were evacuated in 2005. Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Kingdom’s firm rejection of Israeli settlements and their expansion in the occupied territories as a violation of international law and international legitimacy, and a threat to the peace process and regional and international efforts aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Similar condemnation was issued by the Qatari foreign ministry which described it as a de facto policy by the Israeli occupation government, which aims to strip the Palestinians of their rights guaranteed by international laws. Y.S./M.K.
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency