The Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is set to approve 850 new units in illegal colonies, built on stolen Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, this week.
According to Israeli Channel Seven, the Netanyahu-led government intends to approve 500 units in Itamar, Shave Shomron, Oranit, Beit El, and Givat Ze’ev colonies.
250 units will also be approved in Nofei Nehemia colony, with 100 additional units pending final approval.
Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition partners are trying to speed up the approval of new colonies before the outgoing U.S. President, D. Trump leaves office, especially before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Israel’s colonies in the occupied Palestinian territories, including in and around the occupied capital, Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, in addition to various United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
UN Security Council and UN General Assembly resolutions have condemned Israeli policies in all its forms, in the occupied Palestinian territories, whether it be the seizure of Palestinian land for various military purposes, the construction of illegal Israeli colonies, or the creation of bypass roads.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that the occupying power [Israel] is forbidden from transferring any part of its civilian population onto the land on which it occupies [Palestine].
