We strongly condemn the step taken by Israel with the tenders issued today (January 20) for the construction of additional illegal settlements consisting of 2572 housing units, 2112 of which are in the West Bank and 460 in East Jerusalem.

The increase in Israel's such and similar actions ahead of every election to prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian State based on the two-state solution and to change the status of Jerusalem, reflect a dangerous mindset of opportunism. Thus, it is also attempted to block the ways of establishing peace in the region.

We call on the international community to take action in order to protect the rights of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Territories against this mindset of the Israeli Administration as the occupying force.