UN CHIEF ‘DEEPLY CONCERNED’ BY ISRAEL’S CONTINUING WEST BANK SETTLEMENT EXPANSION http://www.un.org/news

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 14 Jun 2013 12:00:03 -0400
Subject: UN CHIEF 'DEEPLY CONCERNED' BY ISRAEL'S CONTINUING WEST BANK
SETTLEMENT EXPANSION
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

UN CHIEF 'DEEPLY CONCERNED' BY ISRAEL'S CONTINUING WEST BANK
SETTLEMENT EXPANSIONNew York, Jun 14 2013 12:00PMCalling reported
ongoing settlement construction in the West Bank "unhelpful" and a
"deeply worrisome trend," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today renewed
his calls on Israel to heed the global community to freeze settlement
activity and abide by its commitments under international law.

In a <"http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=6903">statement
from his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban said he "is deeply
concerned by the continuing expansion of Israeli settlements in the
West Bank in violation of international law."

"He is particularly troubled by reports that planning for hundreds of
housing units in the settlement of Itamar, deep into the West Bank,
has advanced to the next stage, as is also the case in the outpost of
Bruchin," the spokesperson said.

These latest reports follow other recent announcements of expansion in
Beit El, near Ramallah.

"The Secretary-General also remains concerned about reported plans for
around 1,000 settlement units in East Jerusalem and steps to authorize
four illegal settlement outposts deep in the West Bank," according to
the statement.

These developments are "unhelpful decisions that undermine progress
towards the two-state solution," Mr. Ban said through his
spokesperson, adding that "they constitute a deeply worrisome trend at
a moment of ongoing efforts to re-launch peace negotiations."

Meanwhile, a UN independent expert today reiterated his calls on
Israel to end its blockade over the Gaza strip, six years after it was
tightened following the Hamas takeover in June 2007.

"The people of Gaza have endured the unendurable and suffered what is
insufferable for six years. Israel's collective punishment of the
civilian population in Gaza must end today," said the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied
Palestinian territories, Richard Falk.

"Six years of Israel's calculated strangulation of the Gaza Strip has
stunted the economy and has kept most Gazans in a state of perpetual
poverty and aid dependency," the UN expert added.

Citing statistics released by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Mr.
Falk said last month's exports out of Gaza consisted of 49 truckloads
of empty boxes, three truckloads of spices, one truckload of cut
flowers, and one truckload of furniture.

In 2012, the total number of truckloads of exports leaving Gaza was
254, compared to 9,787 in 2005 before the tightening of the blockade,
he said.

In addition, the UN expert said the productive capacity of Gaza has
dwindled since 2007, with 80 per cent of factories in Gaza now closed
or operating at half capacity or less due to the loss of export
markets and prohibitively high operating costs as a result of the
blockade.

"Thirty-four per cent of Gaza's workforce is unemployed including up
to half the youth population, 44 per cent of Gazans are food insecure,
80 per cent of Gazans are aid recipients," he said, highlighting also
the lack of access to potable water, fuel and electricity.

He added that while a small proportion of Gazans can afford to obtain
supplies through the tunnel economy, "tunnels alone cannot meet the
daily needs of the population in Gaza."

"It's clear that the Israeli authorities set out six years ago to
devitalize the Gazan population and economy," the Special Rapporteur
said, referring to a study undertaken by the Israeli Ministry of
Defense in early 2008 detailing the minimum number of calories
Palestinians in Gaza need to consume on a daily basis to avoid
malnutrition. The myriad restrictions imposed by Israel do not permit
civilians in Gaza to develop to their full potential, and enjoy and
exercise fully their human rights.

Independent experts, or special rapporteurs, are appointed by the
Geneva-based Council to examine and report back on a country situation
or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the
experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.Jun 14 2013
12:00PM
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