Occupied Palestine, UN denounces the expansion of settlements by the Zionist regime

A statement read at the end of the special meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) expressed "deep concern and bewilderment" at Israel's recent announcement for further construction and expansion of settlements and the legitimization of outposts.The UN has unanimously condemned Israeli plans to expand settlement settlements in the occupied West Bank, stressing that such activities damage the viability of the two-state solution. The UN body reiterates that continued Israeli settlement activities are gravely endangering the viability of the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.

The statement was read by Vanessa Frazier, Malta's envoy to the United Nations chairing the Council for the month of February: “The Security Council strongly underlines the need for all parties to respect their international obligations and commitments; strongly opposes all unilateral measures that obstruct peace, including, among other things, the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements, the confiscation of Palestinian lands and legitimization of settlement outposts, the demolition of Palestinian homes and the displacement of Palestinian civilians”.

The statement also condemned all acts of violence against civilians, including those targeting Palestinians and Israelis, and called on "all parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from provocative actions , incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, with the aim, among other things, of escalating the situation on the ground”. The UNSC's condemnation comes after the withdrawal of support from the United Arab Emirates and the Palestinian National Authority for the draft resolution, following US pressure.