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by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

In a new direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory and a repeated violator, the Israeli government decided to build 3000 units for Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem.

An Israeli official stated that Israel will be constructing the buildings in settlements located in the West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem.

The official added that the decision was made “in response to the Palestinian bid at the UN General Assembly” in which the Palestinians were voted in as a non-member state after 138 countries voted for the bid, while only 9 countries voted against and 41 countries abstained.

Several Israeli officials stated that Israel suffered a humiliating defeat among the International Community with this large number of states voting for Palestine, and acknowledging Palestine as a state that is under Israeli occupation.

Commenting on the Israeli decision to build more settlement units, the White House that opposed the Palestinian UN bid and threatened to impose sanctions on the Palestinian Authority, stated that the new Israeli plan is counterproductive and will place more obstacles in front of the attempts to resume the direct peace talks.

On Friday, dozens of Palestinians, Israeli and International peace activists, held their weekly nonviolent protests against the Annexation Wall and settlements, in Ni’lin and Bil’in and Nabi Saleh villages, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, Al-Ma’sara village near Bethlehem, Kufur Qaddoum near Qlaqilia, and several other areas.

The army attacked the protesters firing rubber-coated metal bullets at them leading to several injuries while dozens suffered the effects on teargas inhalation. A number of protesters in Ni’lin, burnt a section of the wall after Israeli soldiers attacked their weekly protest.