Erekat denounces Israel's new settlement projects

Senior Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat lambated Israel Friday over its plans to build new settlements in the occupied Palestinian land in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.In a press statement by his office, Erekat, also chief Palestinian negotiator, said that the Israeli plans deal a serious blow to the efforts exerted by the US and the international community to reach a peace deal to end the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict.He added that the Israeli government confirms through its practices that negotiations and peaceful settlement of the conflict are not an option for it. Erekat urged the international community to stop dealing with Israel as "a state above law." The Israeli housing ministry announced the plans for 1,400 new settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.