Palestine blasts Israel over settlement plans

(MENAFN) Palestine accused Israel of converting short-term occupation into everlasting annexation through its settlement plans.

Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki stressed "Israel is violating all core principles (of the law of occupation) and does not hide anymore the true colonial nature of its occupation and its intention to annex Palestinian land."

"One of the main aims of the law of occupation is to prevent occupation from being a disguise for colonialism," the foreign minister noted.

Al-Maliki emphasized "if you look at the principles that lie at the heart of the law of occupation, you will find they all aim to prevent what should be temporary occupation from transforming into permanent annexation."

He added "foremost among these principles is the inadmissibility of the acquisition of land by force, and that the occupant does not acquire sovereignty over the territory it occupies."

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