‘Netanyahu’s move on West Bank disregards int’l law’

ISTANBUL (AA): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank if re-elected “disregards international law”, Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman said on Sunday.

“Netanyahu lately declared that he will annex settlements in West Bank if he wins elections. This statement clearly disregards UN Security Council resolutions and international law,” Omer Celik said on Twitter.

Celik’s remarks came a day after Netanyahu vowed to annex the occupied West Bank if he wins the general election which is slated for April 9.

Netanyahu said in an interview with Israeli television: “We will ensure that we are in charge on the ground. And we will impose sovereignty over the settlements in Judea and Samaria [West Bank].”

Celik also said Netanyahu is moving to a stage of “destroying the law completely”.

Terming Netanyahu’s occupation move as a “major threat” to international law and security, he said: “It is time for the international community to say stop to Netanyahu’s craziness.”

“Everyone should condemn this hate speech that surrounds Netanyahu. Netanyahu is clearly attacking the international community and law.

“International community should protect its own values from Netanyahu’s aggression in a strong way,” the spokesman said.

Roughly 650,000 Jewish settlers currently live on more than 100 settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as “occupied territories” and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity there as illegal.

The Palestinians, for their part, want both these territories — along with the Gaza Strip — for the establishment of a future Palestinian state.