South Africa's foreign minister has denounced the Israeli regimes plan to build new illegal settler units in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).That arrangement there in Palestine keeps us awake, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told members of Cosatu, the largest trade union, which is a political ally of South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), on Friday.
The last time I looked at the map of Palestine, I could not go to sleep. Its dots, smaller than those of the homelands, she added, referring to the former homelands in her country which were also known as bantustans set up under apartheid to give blacks a sense of autonomy.
According to an Israeli Army Radio report on October 30, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar have approved the expansion of the illegal settler units in a settlement known as Ramat Shlomo in East al-Quds.
On the same day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deplored the Israeli regime's plan, while UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said, Settlement activity is contrary to international law and constitutes an obstacle to peace.
Meanwhile, UN special Rapporteur Richard Falk said if renewed talks between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Tel Aviv regime fails, the United Nations General Assembly should seek an opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands.
The Israeli regime has been under fire from the international community, including its own allies, over its expansionist policies.
However, the Tel Aviv regime defies calls to abandon its illegal settlement activities.
Over half a million Israelis live in more than 120 settlements built since Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.
The UN and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are thus subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbids construction on occupied lands.
By Press TV
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