Netanyahu launches new settlement in Palestinian territory

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday placed a foundation stone for a new neighbourhood in a Jewish settlement in occupied Palestinian territory which is to accommodate former residents of a similar complex that was shut down and evicted by the Supreme Court.

Netanyahu attended the foundation stone-laying ceremony in Beitar Illit, one of the largest Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Efe news reported.

He added that the government was promoting the creation of a new outpost for settlers who were evicted from Amona by order of the Supreme Court after it was ruled to be illegally built on Palestinian-owned land.

Netanyahu assured that his team has met several times with Amona's former residents to discuss building new homes for them.

Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory to be illegal, since international law prohibits the occupying power from transferring its population to the territory it occupies, the report said.

In addition, the UN, EU and most countries consider the settlements to be one of the main obstacles to reaching a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.

--IANS

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