Malaysia Condemns New Illegal Settlement Plan by Israel in Palestine

Malaysia has urged the United Nations (UN) and the international community to take firm steps to halt Israel’s plan to expand illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory in order to preserve the opportunity for a just and sustainable peace. The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra), in a statement in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, strongly condemned Israel’s latest announcement regarding a US$2.3 billion plan to build illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Wisma Putra assessed that the plan constitutes a clear violation of international law as well as a deliberate attempt to strengthen Israel’s illegal occupation and deny the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. “The expansion of these illegal settlements is a direct threat to the prospects of achieving a just and sustainable peace. This move demonstrates Israel’s continued violations of international law, including relevant United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention,” the statement read. Malaysia called on the international community and the UN to firmly reject the illegal settlement expansion plan. According to Wisma Putra, the ongoing confiscation of Palestinian land and the expansion of illegal settlements will only prolong injustice, increase instability, and worsen the situation in the region. The ministry stressed that the Palestinian people have long suffered from illegal occupation, the dispossession of their land and homeland, and ongoing human rights violations. Malaysia considers the expansion of illegal settlements by the Zionist regime of Israel to be unjustifiable under any circumstances. Wisma Putra stated that the move reflects a systematic effort to deny the rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and to establish an independent and sovereign state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. “Malaysia reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and reiterates its continued support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.