Al-Azhar Urges Int’l Community to Stop Zionists’ Expansionist Plans
In a statement on Tuesday, the Islamic center voiced strong opposition to Israeli plans that seek to own more Palestinian lands.
Israel has announced plans to build more residences for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, drawing immediate condemnation from Palestinians, peace activists and neighbouring Jordan.
The announcement on Sunday from the Ministry of Construction and Housing in right-wing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government said tenders had been published for 1,355 homes in the occupied West Bank, which was seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.
This is a crime according to the international laws, Al-Azhar said, also describing the measure as “hostile” and “provocative”. The plan should be immediately stopped as it will change the demography of the area, it added.
The Islamic center highlighted that the world should break the silence and strive for ending such aggressions.
Expressing support for the Palestinian nation and resistance, Al-Azhar noted that the Palestinian cause is an issue for all Muslims, Arabs, and fair people across the world.
The new settlement homes are to be built in seven settlements, according to the statement from the housing ministry, and add to the more than 2,000 settlement units that were announced last August.
In a statement, UN envoy to the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland expressed concern over the announcement of the construction of the new settlement units. He also expressed his concern over “the continuation of Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem”.
