Israel ramps up settlement of East Jerusalem

Monday, 23 January 2012 15:03
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According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israel has seized over 1300 dunams of land in and around Occupied East Jerusalem in January alone. Since the new year began just three weeks ago, Israel has already approved over 700 new housing units for settlers in East Jerusalem, as well. 

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East Jerusalem (photo: flickr/Brian Negin)

In a statement released by the Palestine Liberation Organization's Department of International Relations yesterday, the PLO called Israel's efforts to Judacize East Jerusalem--which break up Palestinian population continuity, link illegal West Bank settlements to Jerusalem, and make an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital impossible--"war crimes" and "terrorism."

The statement called on the international community to force Israel to comply with international law.

The United Nations has issued various resolutions rejecting Israel's occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem and the international community does not recognize Israeli claims to the area.