RAMALLAH, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed on Tuesday the Israeli government for approving construction of 650 new settlement units in Bet El settlements near West Bank city of Ramallah.
The ministry said in a press statement that "consolidating the Israeli settlements and its unprecedented engulfing in the Palestinian territory is a reflection of the 'century deal' policy and the inaction of the international community."
The statement described the current Israeli government as "government of settlements and settlers par excellence," blaming it of "publicly undermining the international community and pressing ahead with recalcitrance of international legitimacy and its resolutions."
Reports from the U.S. administration have mentioned that U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are working on a peace deal in the region, which Trump dubbed the "deal of the century."
In response, Palestinian authorities said the U.S. Middle East plans that ignore Palestinians' rights and the establishment of the Palestinian state will lead to a "dead end."
Israeli settlement activity, deemed illegal by most world powers and under the international law, is considered one of the thorniest issues that hindered the peace talks between Palestinians and Israeli.
The last round of U.S.-sponsored negotiations between Palestine and Israel was ended after almost nine months of talks without achieving any breakthrough.
