Palestinian leaders accused Israel of "legalizing theft" with a law that retroactively approved thousands of illegal settlement homes in the occupied West Bank on Monday night. Lawmakers in the Knesset voted 60-52 to approve the retroactive legalization of outposts which had been built on private Palestinian land and had been considered illegal under both international law -- as all settlement activity is -- and Israeli law.
"This law is unacceptable and runs counter to UN Security Council Resolution 2334," Palestinian presidency spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said in a statement. Adopted in December in a 14-0 vote by Security Council members, the resolution condemned Israeli settlement activity as illegal. Abu Rudeineh called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility toward halting Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories.
“This law would lead to more instability and chaos,” he warned. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary-General Saeb Erekat, for his part, said the law reflects Israel’s insistence on undermining peace efforts. "Nobody should have doubts about the Israeli government’s will to destroy any chances for a political solution." Erekat said.