Ramallah, 19 March 2024 (TDI): The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates decried settler terrorism in Masafer Yatta, Occupied West Bank.
Furthermore, it demands the implementation of Resolution 2334 as well as considers Israeli settlements and colonial terrorism as deliberate undermining of the opportunity to implement the two-state solution.
‘Ariel Triangle’
The Ministry has condemned the ongoing efforts of extremist colonial organizations and their associations in the strongest possible terms.
Principally, as per the Ministry, these efforts encompass deepening settlements in the central West Bank and Judaizing the entire region within what has become known as the “Ariel Triangle.”
However, these involve establishing a new settlement outpost and further expanding it at the expense of citizens’ lands located between the villages of Al-Laban Al-Gharbi, Rantis, and Deir Ballut, in the west of Ramallah.
Moreover, the Ministry has also decried the physical assaults and attacks committed by colonialist militias and their armed terrorist elements on all areas in Masafer Yatta commonly involving throwing stones at the citizens and constantly sabotaging their crops.
It has denounced such actions that are categorized as settler terrorism which have immensely aggravated and escalated daily since the initiation of the Israeli offensive on October 7.
Also Read: Palestinian Ministry condemns Israeli settlement expansion
Settler Terrorism Complements Occupation Army’s Role
The Ministry has decried that settler terrorism tantamount to complementing the role of the occupation army of Israel, damaging the lives and lands of citizens through unprecedented encroachment and controlling them through displacements.
This is in addition to the flagrant war of occupation against all forms of Palestinian presence in all areas including the Jordan Valley and the Bedouin communities spreading throughout it.
Resolution 2334 and Two-State solution
The Ministry lamented that the failure to implement Resolution 2334 by the international community encourages settler terrorism.
The said Resolution declares Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) since 1967 as absolutely illegal and a major obstacle in implementing the Two-State solution.
The Ministry believes that unhindered support from the political echelon in Israel for committing more violations, oppression, and abuse against Palestinians, stealing more of their lands, allocating them for the benefit of settlements, etc. constitute an official Israeli policy.
Essentially, this policy aims to introduce deeper changes to the historical, political, legal, and demographic reality of the occupied West Bank.
Resultantly, it is making any future negotiations difficult by undermining any opportunity to implement the principle of a two-state solution.
Lastly, the Ministry calls for developing the sanctions imposed by several countries on some random outposts that are used as bases for settler terrorism.
Such deterrents are crucial to prevent further occupation, dismantle the colonialist militias, lift their political, financial, and legal protection, and prevent direct threats to the opportunity to revive the peace process and facilitate political solutions to the conflict.
