Secretary General of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Saeb Erekat, Wednesday, said that the âGrinch [Israeli] occupation decided to steal the Christmas spirit from the people of Palestine.â
Christians across Palestine celebrate Christmas, with the feeling of peace and joy being weakened by the Israeli occupationsâ constant violation of International Law, and disrespect for Palestinian human rights.
Erekat condemned Israelsâ approval of additional settlement operations, and thus more theft of Palestinian land and resources across the occupied territories, âfor the benefit of Israelâs illegal colonial settlement expansionâ, reported WAFA News Agency.
The Secretary General accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of expanding settlements to âappease the settlersâ, and called the move âa part of his early election campaignâ.
2,500 new settlement units and 2 âindustrial zonesâ were authorized for construction on Palestinian land, which Erekat stated was âpart of Israelâs long list of violations of international lawâ citing United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution #2334.
Passed on Dec. 20, 2016, UNSC resolution #2334, according to UN.org, states that âIsraelâs settlements have no legal validityâ, and are thus, in violation of international law.
Erekat warned International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, that any further delay in probing into Israelâs crimes, âwill cost more Palestiniansâ lives, land, resources, and more suffering and despairâ.
The PLO dignitary urged the world to âact before it is too lateâ and to âact with determination and courage to fulfill its responsibilities towards the people of Palestine.â