ZCZC
BFF-25
PALESTININE-ISRAEL-CONFLICT
Palestinian PM urges int’l community to take action against settlers with
dual nationality
RAMALLAH, Nov 21, 2019 (BSS/Xinhua) – Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad
Ishtaye on Wednesday urged the international community to take measures
against the Israelis who live in the West Bank settlements with dual
nationality.
Ishtaye held an urgent cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening in the wake of
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s remarks over the legality of Israeli
settlements in the West Bank.
“We call upon the international community to take serious measures against
settlers with double nationalities who live illegally in settlements that
have been established illegally on occupied Palestinian territory,” Ishtaye
told reporters at the opening of the cabinet meeting.
Israel allows its citizens to hold dual citizenship. The Israelis with dual
citizenship can enjoy governmental subsidies and incentives if they live in
West Bank settlements.
Ishtaye also urged the International Criminal Court to launch its
investigation into the issue of Israeli settlement activity, which was
referred to it by Palestine previously.
He described Pompeo’s remarks over Israeli settlements as an attempt to
divert attention away from U.S. President Donald Trump’s impeachment
hearings, and “absolve Israel of its own crimes.”
He warned that such a declaration will have “shock waves throughout the
international order as it stands as a threat to international legality and
institutions.”
On Monday, Pompeo said that the United States considers “the establishment
of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not, per se, inconsistent
with international law,” and that Washington was not weighing in on the
legality of any individual settlement.
BSS/XINHUA/FI/ 1016 hrs