OIC condemns Israeli settlements

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, has strongly condemned the ratification by the Israeli government of the construction of thousands of new settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Al-Quds city.

The OIC said that it considered this a flagrant violation of international resolutions, especially UN Security Council Resolution No. 2334, which reiterated the international community's rejection and condemnation of Israel's illegal actions and demanded their halt.

Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, OIC Secretary-General, stressed that accelerating the rate of Israeli settlements at the beginning of the year is a serious indicator that the Israeli occupation government is persisting in its policies aimed at undermining international efforts as agreed by participants in the Paris Peace Conference in January 2017, on the need to implement the two-state solution.

Al-Othaimeen also denounced the discussion by the Israeli Knesset of a Bill designed to legitimise colonial settlement outposts in occupied Palestinian territory, including Al-Quds. He cautioned against the danger of continued Israeli settlement activities and their repercussions throughout the region. He called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to shoulder its responsibilities by taking the necessary steps to enforce its decisions and compel Israel to cease all settlement policies in all occupied Palestinian territories.