West silence on settlement expansions emboldens Israel: Activist
The continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has always been a roadblock to peace initiatives in the Middle East. The settlements continue to grow and Palestinian homes are demolished on a regular basis. The developments have drawn limited criticism from Western governments. But many political observers maintain that the apparent condemnations of the Israeli constructions on occupied territory are nothing but lip service. Press TV has interviewed Joe Catron with the Solidarity Movement to get his take on the issue.
Catron said that the silence of the United States and European countries over Israeli settlement constructions in the occupied territories has emboldened Tel Aviv to adamantly pursue its current expansionist policies.
“I think what we see at work between Israel and what is called the international community, primarily the United States and its allies, is essentially a game,” he said, adding that Israel is going to continue its illegal activities as long as it faces no real repercussions.
He believes that the US and the EU have no intention of applying any actual penalties. "They are happy with statements and routine condemnations every time a new round of settlement construction is announced, but they are particularly concerned with the consequences," Catron continued.
According to the analyst, the only thing that is important for the Western powers is the existence of a kind of peace process to stem Israel’s ongoing seizure of Palestinian lands.
Catron also urged the people around the world to join the Solidarity Movement to prevent Israeli crimes, adding that international support has grown tremendously over the past decade due to the resistance of Palestinians under the occupation as well as Israel’s horrific crimes against them.
“The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement alone has reached impressive victories in driving major corporations out of Palestine altogether and building support among institutions like churches and academic societies for the Palestinians’ trouble."
“There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. In particular, we need to think how to leverage this support of the grassroots to affect the state policies to bring an end to Israel’s impunity in Brussels and Washington,” he concluded.
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