RAMALLAH, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Presidency condemned on Wednesday the approval by the Israeli authorities of the construction of 2,162 new settlement units in the West Bank.
In a statement published by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the presidency said that the Israeli approval of the new settlement units represents "a blatant challenge to international law and UN resolutions, foremost among them UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which affirms the illegality of settlements in all occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem."
The presidency added that this approval is "illegitimate and will not grant legitimacy to anyone," holding the Israeli authorities "responsible for the serious repercussions of these provocative policies, which will push the region toward further rounds of violence and escalation."
The presidency called on the U.S. administration to "intervene immediately to stop this Israeli madness if it truly desires to achieve security and stability in the region and the world."
Israeli media reported on Wednesday that the Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration, a department of the Israeli Defense Ministry, approved the construction of 2,162 settlement housing units in the West Bank.
Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war and has established settlements there, a move not recognized by the international community.
More than 700,000 Israeli settlers were living in settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law, and 3.3 million Palestinians were living in the same area, according to a 2025 UN report. ■
