Far-Left Groups to ‘Represent’ Israel at U.N. Session on Settlements

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General view of the Samaria settlement of Ariel, on January 17, 2014. Photo by Flash 90. *** Local Caption *** àøéàì äúðçìåú ééùåá ùåîøåï éäåãä åùåîøåï äâãä äîòøáéú ðåó
General view of Ariel, in the Shomron. (Flash90)

The U.N. Security Council on Friday will be discussing the “illegality” of Israeli communities in Yehudah and Shomron – and representing Israel will be far-left groups Peace Now and Betselem, who will present discussions on the details of Israel’s settlement activity. The discussion, which is not official and will not lead to a vote, was demanded by the Palestinian Authority, and it was decided that Israelis were needed to “balance” the discussion.

Both organizations are solidly against any Israeli presence in Yehudah and Shomron. In a statement, Betselem said that its director, Chagai El-ad, will present details on Israeli settlements. “El-ad will stress that after almost half a century of Israeli military control over millions of people, the occupation is only deepening, while the settlements – one of the main reasons for daily violations of Palestinians’ human rights – continue to expand,” the statement said.

“Under these circumstances, it would be unreasonable to consider the occupation temporary or to believe that Israel intends to change this reality in the foreseeable future. The responsibility for ending the occupation and the human rights violations that it entails lies first and foremost with Israel, yet this reality will not change as long as the international community stands idly by,” it added.

Commenting on the event, Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said that “the Palestinians continue to seek ways to avoid direct negotiations and use ‘diplomatic terror attacks’ as a tactic against Israel. It is very sad, especially during these days of prayer and repentance, to see Israeli organizations providing moral justification for the U.N.’s persecution of Israel.”

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