The Israeli Parliament passed a law which aimed at the legalization of about 3 thousand units of housing built on private Palestinian land in the West Bank.
Many of the houses located in close proximity to unauthorized communities that have emerged in the West Bank over the past 20 years. Unlike the settlements, they are not recognized or not authorized in Israel, although many of them are close to existing settlements.
The vote complicates efforts to achieve the two States in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict over land rights. Officials on both sides of the debate described the vote as a clear step towards the annexation of the West Bank. Israel last week said it plans to build a new settlement in the West Bank, despite the resolution of the UN Security Council in December, condemning the construction of Israeli settlements.
Before the vote, the UN special coordinator for the middle East peace process Nikolay Mladenov, called on Israeli lawmakers to reconsider the measures, noting that the Israeli attorney-General deemed it unconstitutional. "If enacted, it will have far-reaching legal consequences for Israel and greatly reduce the prospects for Arab-Israeli peace," said Mladenov in his statement on Monday.
The new law is expected to be appealed to the Supreme court on the grounds that the Knesset has no authority to legislate matters of land ownership, which is not part of Israel. Israeli NGO Peace Now, the campaign for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, said it would appeal the law.
In accordance with international law, all settlements and outposts are illegal as the West Bank is considered occupied territory, though Israel disputes this. Senior Palestinian officials condemned the law, calling it a legalized "theft of land" and accusing the Knesset in violation of international law.
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