Palestinian official slams Israeli settlement policy

A Palestinian official said on Tuesday that the Israeli government’s decision to build new 2000 settlement units in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem will expedite the destruction of the peace process. Spokesman for the Palestinian presidency Nabil Abu Redainah said reports about Israel’s blocking of UNESCO officials visits to the Palestinian territory and threats of freezing the Palestinian Authority funds are all provocative acts against the Palestinian people and the efforts of the Quartet on peace in the Middle East. Israel’s settlement activity has never stopped before or after Palestine gained full membership at the UNESCO, he said and urged the US and the European Union to stop the Israeli practices which negatively impact the area. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered on Tuesday expediting the construction of 2000 settlement blocks in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and studying more settlements in areas that could be evacuated in the event of reaching a peace settlement with the Palestinians.