“…increase in the levels of settler violence which have had an impact on Palestinians, but also has an impact on Israeli settlers as well. And I also alerted the Council in relation to East Jerusalem to my concerns about the proposals for an additional settlement which would cut off East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank,” was the testimony of Valerie Ann Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs before the UN Security Council (She is 2nd Photo): “Overall, I think, the whole international community accepts that settlement activity is illegal under international law, and this is certainly the position that was repeated in the Security Council today.” The UN’s highest humanitarian official briefed the UNSC today (January 18, 2012) behind closed doors on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Gaza, including the effects of illegal Israeli settlements on the population. Ms. Amos told reporters that she had alerted the Council on her concerns about “an increase in the levels of settler violence” and that such “had an impact on Palestinians, but also has an impact on Israeli settlers as well. See Film Report: - “East Jersusalem” -http://diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/east-jerusalem/26782 More Settlements for East Jerusalem: She said that she had also alerted the Council about proposals for an additional settlement “which would cut off East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.” According to the latest report on the impact of Israeli settlement policies from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), since 1967, Israel has established about 150 settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in addition to some 100 “outposts” erected by settlers without official authorization. The settler population is estimated at approximately 500,000. Read: - East Jersusalem Settlements…Debates” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/east-jerusalem-settlements-israelpalestine-prisoner-exchange-crowd-palestine-un-membership-debate-by-ambassador-mo/36341. Palestinian Ambassador Reacts: Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN (3rd Photo) stated: “The obligation of Israel under the Roadmap stipulates that they have to stop all settlement activities, including the natural growth. What the international community, including the Security Council, is expecting from Israel is to meet its obligations under international law and the Roadmap and to stop all these illegal activities on the settlement front so that the door for the resumptions of negotiation is to take place.” Read: -“Palestine Bouncing Between Despair & Euphoria” -- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/palestine-bouncing-between-despair-euphoria-by-ambassador-mo/42936 Israel Ambassador Speaks: Ron Prosor, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN (Bottom Photo) offered his Government’s view: “Today the Security Council dealing with, specially, the OCHA report is grinding again and again issues that have no real credence and are not constructive on achieving real peace. Real peace can be achieved in direct negotiations on the serious issues that the Palestinian leadership is not addressing. You want to hear what is the major hurdle to peace? The major hurdle to peace is the Palestinian’s quest for the right of return. That is the major hurdle to peace.” The ‘right of return’ refers to the over four million Palestinians living in refugee communities scattered around the Middle East. Palestinians assert that those who fled or were displaced during the Israeli-Arab wars in 1948 and 1967, as well as their descendents, have a right to return to what was once Palestine, including land which is now Israel. (See Film Report: -“Israeli/Palestine Debate at UN” -http://diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/israelpalestine-state-debateun/28639 Gaza Blockade: On the recent closing of the Karni commercial crossing into Gaza, Under-Secretary General Amos noted that, exports out of Gaza have ”more than halved” in the five years of the Gaza blockade, and pointed out that if “Gaza is going to come off its dependence on humanitarian aid, we need to see economic development and economic activity in Gaza.” See Film Report: - “Israeli Maestro for Gaza” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/israeli-maestro-for-gaza/26637 According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) the private sector in Gaza continues to be badly affected by the restrictions on exports. While the informal economy provided for wider imports, the blockade continues to restrict exports, which currently stand at just over 3 per cent of pre-blockade levels, preventing sustainable economic growth. Read: - “Made in Gaza-Formula! Car to Race in Europe” -http://diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/made-in-gaza-formula-1-car-to-race-in-europe-by-ambassador-mo/29401 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook = Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX War Crimes Justice Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/war-crimes-justice FOLLOW Mo on Twitter - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/