GENEVA, Feb 11 (KUNA) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Volker Turk, on Wednesday condemned the recent decisions by the Israeli occupation security cabinet to expand land expropriation in the occupied West Bank.
He described the measures as a "flagrant breach of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination," stressing that they represent yet another step by Israeli occupation authorities undermining the possibility of establishing a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
Turk warned that, if implemented, these decisions will accelerate the dispossession and forcible transfer of Palestinians, enable the creation of additional illegal settlements, restrict the enjoyment of human rights, and deprive Palestinians of their natural resources.
He explained that on 8 February, the Israeli occupation security cabinet approved a package of measures expanding Israeli civilian authority in areas A and B of the West Bank, despite some powers falling under the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords.
The High Commissioner stressed that these measures violate the law of occupation, changing legal frameworks to allow Israeli authorities and individuals to acquire Palestinian land in these areas, consolidating unlawful annexation and cementing Israel's control over the occupied territory.
Turk noted that the Israeli occupation decisions strip the Palestinian Authority of planning and building powers in parts of Al Khalil, including the Ibrahimi Mosque and establish Israeli occupation administrative control over Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem to accelerate settlement expansion.
He underscored that these actions violate both the land and cultural rights of Palestinians, targeting sites of particular historical and religious significance, and constitute part of a broader pattern of settlement-related violations across the occupied West Bank.
The UN official highlighted that these measures occur amid increasing attacks by Israeli settlers and security forces against Palestinians, including forcible transfers, home demolitions, land confiscations, and movement restrictions, all extensively documented by UN Human Rights monitoring.
Turk said, "We are witnessing rapid steps to permanently alter the demography of the occupied Palestinian territory, stripping its people of their lands, forcing displacement, and supported by rhetoric and actions of senior Israeli officials, in violation of occupation law." He concluded that "these decisions must be overturned, settlements evacuated, and the occupation ended immediately," emphasizing the urgent need for Israel to comply with international obligations and respect the rights of the Palestinian people. (end) imk.ahm