2020, record year for colonization in the West Bank
Protest by Palestinians in front of the Kedumim settlement against Israel's plan to annex parts of the West Bank, in Kafr Qaddum near Nablus, July 3, 2020. REUTERS / Mohamad Torokman
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Nearly 2,000 Wednesday, 3,000 this Thursday.
In two days, construction permits for nearly 5,000 new homes in Israeli settlements in the West Bank were put forward by the Israeli Defense Ministry.
These announcements are the first since Israel suspended its plans to annex part of this Palestinian territory.
In the absence of annexation, construction in the settlements continues.
And is accelerating: 2020 has been a banner year.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Guilhem Delteil
The anti-colonization organization "Peace Now" began to identify building permits in the settlements in 2012. For 8 years, never have so many cases been put forward as in 2020, she notes.
The trend observed since the
arrival of Donald Trump
to the White House has increased this year, notes Brian Reeves, spokesperson for the organization.
“
It may relate to the release of the Trump plan.
This is where permits were put forward for the very sensitive E1 zone and very quickly there was a second construction approval session.
"
The
Donald Trump plan
to end the Israeli-Palestinian foresaw the annexation of part of the West Bank, Palestinian territory by Israel.
But this project was officially suspended after the announcement of an agreement to normalize relations between
Israel and the United Arab Emirates
.
But for Brian Reeves, annexation remains a reality.
“
This is the de facto annexation.
It is about the formal acquisition of territories by imposing a reality on the ground.
And the fact that this is not declared as an annexation has little impact on the ground.
"
The Palestinian leadership also sees these announcements as "
proof that annexation is an ongoing process
."
The UN coordinator for the peace process calls for "
the immediate end of all settlement activity
".
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