Khaberni - Deputy President of the State of Palestine, Hussein al-Sheikh, condemned the decision by the Israeli government and the Israeli Army Minister to transfer law enforcement powers in Israeli settlements erected on the land of the occupied State of Palestine to the Israeli police.
Al-Sheikh stated in a release issued Friday, that this move constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, international legitimacy resolutions, and signed treaties, and represents a new attempt to impose Israeli law and sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and to legitimize the illegal annexation of Palestinian lands.
Al-Sheikh emphasized that all forms of settlement are illegitimate, and Israel has no sovereignty over any part of the lands of the State of Palestine occupied in 1967.
Al-Sheikh called on the international community, led by the UN Security Council, to take responsibility and halt these unilateral and dangerous Israeli measures, and to enforce Israeli compliance with international legitimacy resolutions and international law.
The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, had instructed the Israeli Army to prepare a plan to transfer all civil law enforcement powers in the West Bank to the police.
The Defense Minister's office stated that this directive was transferred to the army following consultations Katz held with the Israeli Army Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, and other military leaders.
The statement added that the police will prepare and establish an appropriate force to handle civil matters, and will be granted all necessary powers and budgets.
