Erekat calls for immediate action against report legitimizing settlements

Chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat Thursday said, in a press release, that the Levi Report requires immediate international action, starting with the admission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations on the 1967 borders. He said that the Levi Report, which aims to legitimize settlement outposts in the West Bank, reflects the position of a government that has chosen to turn occupation into annexation and to impose an Apartheid reality in Palestine rather than taking steps to make peace possible”. “Statements are not enough.” Erekat said, “The international community has allowed Israel to breach international law with impunity by issuing statements that are not followed up with real political pressure.” He affirmed that recognizing the State of Palestine and supporting its admission to the United Nations is the response the international community should give to Israel.” Erekat referred to reports on pressure by certain governments to delay the UN vote saying, “Some are calling upon us to think 'creatively.’ But we prefer to give them an old formula that never fails: Act according to international law.” “Only Israel’s impunity granted by a lack of international accountability and political will has allowed the Israeli government to adopt extremist policies against the internationally recognized formula of two-states separated by the 1967 border.” Erekat concluded that Israel doesn’t want to end the occupation, rather they are imposing Apartheid which requires immediate international action, starting with the admission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations on the 1967 borders.”