Foreign ministry condemns Israel’s appropriation of hundreds of dunums of land in Bethlehem for colonial expansion

RAMALLAH: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said Israel's appropriation of hundreds of dunums of lands in the Bethlehem Governorate in favor of turning the illegal 'Nahal Heletz' outpost into a colony, comes in light of the international failure to implement the relevant UN resolutions, especially resolution 2334. In a statement, the ministry stressed that the international failure encourages the occupation government to continue the appropriation of the West Bank land and the deepening of colonial activities. The ministry said that Israel's appropriation of 338 dunums of land in Bethlehem Governorate in favor of turning the nearby 'Nahal Heletz' outpost into a colony, is part of an expansionary colonial policy that includes the construction and legalization of dozens of colonial outposts, the expansion of existing colonies and the construction of a large network of roads to transform all the colonies into a huge geographically connected cluster, devouring the largest area of citizens' land in the occupied West Bank. The ministry affirmed that the increased demolitions constitute a blatant disregard of international legitimacy resolutions, international law and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA