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More illegal "settlements" by the Israelis

There is no stopping the Israelis in taking over Palestinian land in the West Bank - contrary to international law.   The latest episode:

"Israel has decided to make legal under Israeli law three settlement outposts in the West Bank, the prime minister's office has said in a statement.

It said that a ministerial committee had decided to "formalise the status" of Bruchin and Rechelim, in the north, and Sansana, near Hebron in the south.

The Palestinian Authority strongly condemned the decision.

"Every single settlement built on Palestinian land is illegal", Chief Negotiator, Saeb Erekat, told the BBC.

The Israeli government had told the Supreme Court that it would regulate the status of the three outposts, which have a total of about 830 residents."

Look at the photograph and wonder whether this is a so-called "settlement" - one of the 3 now made "legal" by the Israelis.  It's a fully established town - not some outpost of tents and caravans, as the Israelis often like to portray.


"The Israeli settlement watchdog, Peace Now, has also criticised the Israeli government's legalisation of the outposts.

"This is the first time since 1990 that the Israeli government has decided to establish new settlements," said Hagit Ofran from the group.

"The government tries to deceive the Israeli public, bypassing the need to officially declare these three new settlements. However these tricks do not cover up their real policy to establish new settlements and not move towards peace and a two-state solution," she added."

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