Barghouthi: Settlement expansion surged about twenty-fold since Annapolis

Dr. Mustafa Al-Barghouthi, a lawmaker and the secretary-general of the Palestinian national initiative, said on Sunday that the pace of settlement expansion has surged almost twenty-fold since the Annapolis conference, adding that the total settlement units under construction are 11,332.

Dr. Barghouthi underlined that the Israeli occupation is preparing for a Palestinian state with temporary borders including Israeli settlements, and is intending to separate occupied Jerusalem from the West Bank, annex and Judaize Al-Aghwar region, thus guaranteeing its control over 46 percent of the West Bank.

The lawmaker called for adopting a united Palestinian position to confront the Zionist schemes and to inform the world about what is being done by Israel on the ground and to refuse any partial or transitional solutions including the mere declaration of principles again.

Despite the ongoing Israeli violations and settlement expansion, PA chief Mahmoud Abbas is to hold a new meeting Monday with Israeli premier Ehud Olmert.