Arab League slams Israel over settlements

The Arab League Secretary-General, Nabil Al-Arabi, has condemned Israel’s decision to expand settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He urged the United Nations Security Council to take action in order to deter Israel.   In a statement to the press, Al-Arabi declared that the condemnation statements issued by the United Nations, the European Union and the United States -- which demanded the immediate stop of the provocative Israeli policies -- are "a welcomed step forward," but it is not enough to stop the persistent Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. He added that the UN, US and Europe should take specific measures and sanctions to force Israel to halt its settlement, an action the entire world considers illegal and against all UN resolutions according to the Secretary-General of the Arab League. The Secretary-General called the international community represented by the Security Council to move quickly and take the necessary measures to deter Israel from their constant settlement policy, unilateral measures and punitive collective measures against the Palestinian people. Al-Arabi added that Israel’s decisions will undermine the chances of achieving peace and the foundations of the two-state solution leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with its capital East Jerusalem.