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Israel Punishing Palestinians With Rushed Settlements

Funds also frozen after Palestine's UNESCO membership

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2011 4:10 AM CDT

(Newser) – Palestine's membership in UNESCO has met a fierce response from Israel. A day after Palestine joined the United Nations' cultural body, Israel ordered the accelerated construction of 2,000 new homes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. In what officials acknowledge is punishment for "unilateral actions," Israel has also temporarily frozen funds that it has collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, Voice of America reports.

Palestinian officials branded the move to rush settlement construction a decision to "speed up the destruction of the peace process," and accused Israel of "stealing money from the Palestinian people" by withholding revenue, the BBC reports. The US has cut off funding to UNESCO because of its decision to admit Palestine. Palestinian officials say they plan to apply for membership in 16 other United Nations bodies.

A Palestinian works at a construction site in the Jewish West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, near Jerusalem.
A Palestinian works at a construction site in the Jewish West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, near Jerusalem.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 27 comments
saucier111
Nov 2, 2011 1:09 PM CDT
Why are we still giving these nuckle heads close to 3 billion dollars in aid each and every year. Have they ever paid for the damage they done to the USS liberty on june 8th 1967,not to mention the 34 American sailors who were killed during the attack.
donaldbarnes
Nov 2, 2011 12:09 PM CDT
THE world is crazy !  Can london build new homes ? Can Mexico City build new homes? Can washington d c build new homes ? Can the capitals of all nations build new homes ?  YES THEY  CAN !!!!!!!!!! BUT THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL  IS NOT TO BUILD NEW HOMES ! WHY NOT ? YES, THE WORLD IS CRAZY !!!!!!!!!!!!! BLESS ISRAEL - RECEIVE BLESSINGS CURSE ISRAEL RECEIVE THE CURSE BACK UPON YOURSELF.
FegelahBoychic2
Nov 2, 2011 11:30 AM CDT
The land belongs to Israel not the "Palestinians". It was won in a war when Israel was invaded by several invading armies. Building will occur in a few year and in twenty years  and again in fifty years because the land will still belong to and in Israel. There will be, of course, land swaps when the Palis get their act together and decide to stop trying to push Israel into the sea.

 
Palestinian Authority • Israel • United Nations • Israel and Palestinians • UNESCO • Palestinians • West Bank settlements

 
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