Itongadol/AJN.- Israeli official says government is planning to build 1,400 housing units over Green Line; chief Palestinian negotiator warns PA would apply for membership in 63 int\’l organizations, including the ICC, if Israel makes move.
The Palestinian Authority said it would plan to appeal the the internationl community, including the International Criminal Court if Israel announces plans for new settlement construction next week follow the third release of Palestinian prisoner as part of an agreement for resuming negotiations.
The Palestinians have said any further expansion of Israeli settlements on land they seek for a state could derail US-brokered peace talks that resumed in July after a three-year break and are set to last until April.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the move would "destroy the peace process" and could be met with retaliation.
"We in the Palestinian leadership would immediately present our application for membership in 63 international organizations, among them the International Criminal Court," the al-Quds newspaper quoted Erekat as saying on Friday.
Israel plans to build 1,400 homes in its settlements in the West Bank and will announce the projects next week after releasing a group of Palestinian prisoners, an Israeli official said on Friday.
Israel has been expected to release about two dozen Palestinians, the third group to be freed since the talks restarted, by the middle of next week and to announce a new settlement push of hitherto undisclosed size shortly after.
The Israeli government official said about 600 homes would be announced in Ramat Shlomo, a settlement of mainly Ultra-Orthodox Jews located in an area of the West Bank.