Israel is not after peace in Middle East

Iran’s representative to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) says the halt of the partial settlement freeze proves Israel does not seek peace.

The Islamic Republic’s permanent envoy to the OIC, Hamid-Reza Dehqani said, “Settlement expansion is a sign that the Zionist regime [of Israel] is not seeking peace in the region.”

“The Zionist regime [of Israel] seeks to demolish the peace process by continuing to build settlements. Particularly the ruling extremist right-wings in this regime never seek peace,” the envoy added.

Dehqani met with Assistant Secretary General of the OIC Samir Bakr in Jeddah and thanked the organization and Muslim nations for their efforts regarding Palestine.

He also called on Muslim states to help preserve the Islamic identity of al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Earlier this week the United Nations Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Robert Serry voiced alarm over the massive construction work launched since the end of Israel’s partial settlement freeze in late September.

The Israelis have launched the construction of at least 900 settlement units across the occupied West Bank since the expiry of the 10-month partial freeze, which allowed construction in East al-Quds.

Palestinians have long demanded a halt to Israeli settlement projects, especially in East al-Quds, which they see as the capital of their future Palestinian state.

They argue that the Judaization of the illegally annexed city through settlement expansions would render the concept of an independent Palestinian state meaningless.