Alwaght – Despite initial optimisms about containing Israeli regime settlements by Obama cabinet in early year, data shows they not only did not stop, but also expanded the illegal settlements.
The increased development projects during the 8 years of Obama presidency concluded in construction of over 12288 new settlement units, Associated Press reported.
The data released by Tel Aviv’s Central Bureau of Statistics show that during the first half of the 2016 development of over 1195 units has begun.
Based on that pace of construction, the number could well exceed 13,000 housing units by the time Obama leaves office, according to the report.
The surge comes despite Obama’s repeated criticism of Tel Aviv for its settlement expansion. However, US's reactions to Israelis expansionist policy are only limited to verbal condemnation, but it practice Washington not only has never taken any deterrent measure to force Tel Aviv to end building illegal settlements but also by measures such as increasing the amount of US's military aid package to Israel has emboldened the regime to continue its expansionist policies without hesitation.
Over half a million Israelis live in more than 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. Tel Aviv has defied calls to stop the settlements expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israel’s settlement expansion has been among the main reasons behind the collapse of the last round of the so-called Middle East peace talks in 2014.
