Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Fadi Al-Hidmi said, “The occupied city of East Jerusalem is witnessing a major Israeli settlement escalation, on the eve of the occupation’s municipal elections.”

Al-Hidmi, Australia's representative to Palestine, Ambassador Edward Russell, during the meeting held at the ministry's headquarters in Al-Ram, today, Tuesday, presented the dangerous developments taking place in the occupied city, as a result of the Israeli escalation at all levels.

He pointed out that the candidates for the occupation municipal elections, which will be held next month, are using settlements as "fuel" for their electoral propaganda.

He touched on the occupation municipality’s approval of the establishment of 3,500 settlement units within the framework of a new settlement that also includes 1,300 hotel rooms south of Jerusalem, and its decision to establish a new settlement that includes 384 settlement units on the lands of Abu Dis, Shiyah, and Ras al-Amud, and the imminent construction of thousands of other settlement units in many settlements within the city of Jerusalem. ".

Al-Hidmi called for rapid international action to stop Israeli violations that not only destroy the chances of a two-state solution, but are also a violation of international humanitarian law.

The two parties agreed to continue communication in the next stage to follow developments.