NOVANEWS
Israeli settlements are considered illegal by the UN and most countries because they are built on territories which were captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967, and are hence seen as being subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.”
“They [Israelis] were buying time, spending money, buying off members of the Congress. They now have over 500 members of America’s Congress who have signed a letter totally supporting Israel, opposing the talks,” said Gordon Duff, senior editor of Veterans Today from Ohio, in an interview with Press TV.
He added that the Zionist regime of Israel is killing time in reparation for possible military action on Lebanon.
“Israel only wanted to buy time, and in another sense Israel is hoping to create enough publicity here where we are likely to see a renewal of violence … and we are expecting a military attack against Lebanon fairly soon,” the commentator added.
He strongly recommended the PA authorities to make a wise decision and withdraw from these negotiations, saying, “The Palestinian authority has nothing to gain in entering negotiations now.”
The analyst emphasized that international support for the Israeli regime has fallen to its lowest level.
Duff further stated that Israel never favors the creation of an independent Palestinian state, noting that Tel Aviv approved construction of more settlement units just days before the beginning of the talks.
He said construction of new settlements constitutes a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions, adding that the US government, which is easily swayed by tens of billions of dollars worth of Israeli financial aid to American politicians, is also involved in Israel’s settlement construction.
“America’s government is hamstrung and is unable to take any viable position whatsoever,” he pointed out.
On Thursday, US State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said talks between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli regime will resume on August 14 in al-Quds (Jerusalem).
The representatives of Israel and the PA met last month in Washington. The meeting was the first direct negotiations in three years.
However, al-Quds municipal councilor, Yosef Pepe Alalu, said on Tuesday that the municipality had approved the plan for the construction of another 942 settlement units in Gilo settlement.
Israeli settlements are considered illegal by the UN and most countries because they are built on territories which were captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967, and are hence seen as being subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
Palestinians are seeking to create an independent state on the territories of the West Bank, East al-Quds, and the Gaza Strip and are demanding Israel to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories.
Tel Aviv, however, has refused to return to the 1967 borders and is unwilling to discuss the issue of al-Quds.
