Israel Under Widespread International Criticism for Settlement Expansion Plan

Israel is coming under widespread international criticism for its plan to engage in a new round of illegal settlement expansion on occupied Palestinian land. Israel says it will build 900 new housing units in the East Jerusalem settlement of Gilo. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Israel’s decision “provides 900 more reasons why hopes for salvaging the two-state solution and restarting genuine negotiations are rapidly fading, and why Israel is not a partner for peace.” The US-backed Palestinian Authority has also called on the public to boycott several large supermarket chains in the West Bank that sell products made in Israeli settlements.

In an interview on FOX news earlier this week President Obama said, “additional settlement building makes it hard to relaunch any kind of serious talks.”

Meanwhile New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind led a group of 50 American Jews to buy property in the nearby settlement of Nof Zion, also in East Jerusalem. During a tour of settlement real estate projects the Democratic Assemblyman said, “Rather than buying second homes in Florida, we want people to buy in Israel.”

With negotiations frozen, last week Palestinian Authority leaders began a renewed effort to win international support for formal Security Council endorsement of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders.

To analyze the latest developments I’m joined here in Los Angeles by Saree Makdisi. He is a professor of English and Comparative Literature at UCLA and the author of several books. His latest is called “Palestine Inside Out: An Everyday Occupation.”

Saree Makdisi, professor of English and Comparative Literature at UCLA and the author of several books. His latest is called “Palestine Inside Out: An Everyday Occupation.”

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