Barghouti: Israelis set sights on 3,000 settlement units despite peace talks

 [ 05/09/2010 - 01:47 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)--

Palestinian National Initiative Secretary-General Mustafa Al-Barghouthi says Israeli settlement activities “are well under way” despite recent peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

Israel never abided by its decision to freeze settlement activity in the city of Jerusalem and its suburbs, Al-Barghouthi said in a press statement Saturday, adding that construction operations continue in the West Bank. Israeli settlers seized 130 acres in the south Nablus village Qaryut alone, he noted.

Settlers from several West Bank settlements have begun preparing equipment and cement mixers since last Wednesday to establish homes and gathering centers.

Barghouthi unfolded in his statement an Israeli scandal to build 3,000 new homes in West Bank settlements.

The settlement freeze is only a trick, Bargouthi commented, noting that settlers began three days back building a new settlement outpost in an east Al-Khalil farming village. The Israeli government approved last month erecting 23 classrooms in eight West Bank settlements.

Larger settlements are home to huge building projects. 180 new settlement units have been built in the Beitar Illit settlement, 62 in the Burkan settlement, 100 in Benreih, and 60 in Sha'arei Tikva, the official provided.

Construction is now in progression in several Israeli settlements, including Givat Ze'ev, where 40 settlement units are being built,  Mitzpe Jericho (24 units), Ariel (22 units), Kfar Etzion (20 units), Kfar Adumim (18 units), Itamar (12 units), Ali (11 units), Ornet (9 units), Beitar Illit (7 units), Elqana (6 units), Eliezer (5 units), and Yakir (5 units).

“This data confirms that going into negotiations before the settlement freeze was the wrong decision,” Barghouthi concluded.

Barghouthi: “Construction Continues In Dozens of Settlements”

Saturday September 04, 2010 18:10 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian Legislator, Dr. Mustafa Al-Barghouthi, stated that while the Israeli occupation government is heading to peace talks with the Palestinians, it continues its illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem.

Dr. Al-Barghouthi added that Israel never even froze its settlement activities in Jerusalem and its suburbs, and is ongoing with the construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank.

He further stated that settlers grabbed by force 130 Dunams of Palestinian farmlands that belong to residents of Qaryout village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and that they brought construction equipment to build homes.

Dr. Barghouthi also revealed that Israel is planning to build 3000 homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and that settlers build, three days ago, a new illegal outpost on lands that belong to Al Baq’a village near the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

He considered Israel’s declaration of freezing settlement activities as a new scam that aims at deceiving the international community especially since the Israeli government approved last month the construction of 23 school rooms in eight West Bank settlements.

Over the past several months, Israel started the construction of 390 units in different West Bank settlements, and also built 223 units in addition to 167 mobile homes placed by the settlers.

Hundreds of units are currently being constructed in Beitar Ilit settlement, Yirkan settlement, Penze settlement and Shi’are Tikva.

Israel is currently building 40 units in Givat Zeev settlement, 24 in Mitzpe Yeriho, 22 in Ariel, 21 in Maaleh Adumin, 20 in Kfar Ezion, 18 in Kfar Adumim, 12 in Itamar, 11 in Eli, 9 in Oranit, 9 in Tzufim, 7 in Beitar Ilit, 6 in Elkna, 6 in Finuel, 5 in Eliezer, and 5 in Yakir.

Dr. Barghouthi said that heading to direct talks with Israel before it halts all of its settlement activities is a wrong decision under the current circumstances.