Int’l community overlooking Israeli crimes: Palestine FM

By Eshat Firat

ANKARA

Palestine plans to lodge another complaint with the UN over the seeming apathy towards Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians by UN member states, especially the U.S., Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said Monday in Ankara.

"Despite repeated warnings, Israel continues to build new [Jewish-only] settlements on occupied Palestinian territory," al-Maliki said in exclusive comments to Anadolu Agency.

"Israel shamelessly continues to build [settlements] in the [occupied] West Bank and East Jerusalem," he asserted.

Citing France’s recent contribution to the Middle East peace process by hosting an international conference in June devoted to restarting stalled peace talks, al-Maliki said: "France will continue to pursue the initiative despite Israel’s objections".

"The international community, which views Israel’s [settlement-building] activities as illegal, stands with us in this regard," he added.

"As the Palestinian nation, we will not make any concessions in our struggle," he added.

Regarding the recent appointment of Avigdor Lieberman -- known for his controversial anti-Palestinian statements -- as Israeli defense minister, al-Maliki said: "His appointment drew negative reactions from around the world and even stirred controversy in Israel."

Lieberman’s appointment, he went on to warn, "portends yet another war on the Gaza Strip".

He added: "The international community must stop Lieberman.