Abu Rudeineh: Israel is destroying chances of peace

Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh condemned Wednesday an Israeli decision to build hundreds of new housing units in settlements built on occupied land in East Jerusalem, which he said will destroy chances of peace. He said in a statement that this Israeli policy “is destructive to the peace process and a message to the international community that Israel does not abide by international law and keeps putting obstacles in the way of the peace process.” He said that this “forces the Palestinian and Arab sides to lose faith in this government’s ability to make peace,” adding that “we condemn this act and settlements are all illegal and not one settlement is going to stay on Palestinian land.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed with his Minister of Interior Gideon Saar to expedite four construction plans in East Jerusalem. The plans call for the construction of 1500 new housing units in the settlement of Ramat Shlomo built on Shufat land in addition to expanding existing homes and two tourism projects near the Old City wall and on Mount Scopus.