Defying U.N., Israel prepares to build more settlements

Undeterred by a resounding defeat at the UN, the Israeli government has said that it would move ahead with thousands of new homes in the disputed West Bank area, a media report said on Tuesday.

It said: The city intends to approve 600 housing units in the predominantly Palestinian eastern section of town on Wednesday in what a top official called a first installment on 5,600 new homes.Israel also warned nations against further action, declaring that it does not "turn the other cheek", the New York Times reported.

This was following the vote, passed on December 23, by a 14-0 majority, with the US abstaining, demanding Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem".

Just days after, the Jerusalem's government signalled that it would not back down.

The defiant posture reflected a bristling anger among Israel's pro-settlement political leaders, who not only blamed the US for failing to block the Council resolution, but also claimed that President Barack Obama's team orchestrated it.

American officials strongly denied the claim, but the sides seem poised for more weeks of conflict until Obama hands over the presidency to Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also lashed out at the Security Council countries by curbing diplomatic contacts, recalling envoys, cutting off aid and summoning the American ambassador for a scolding.

He cancelled a planned visit this week by Ukraine's Prime Minister even as he expressed concern on Monday that Obama was planning more action at the UN before his term ends next month.

Palestinian leaders made clear that they would use the resolution in international bodies to press their case against Israel. With the imprimatur of a United Nations finding of illegality, they said they would campaign to require that other countries not just label products made in the settlements, but ban them.

"Now we can talk about the boycott of all settlements, the companies that work with them, et cetera, and actually take legal action against them if they continue to work with them," Riad Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, was quoted as saying by the Palestinian news media.

He outlined other steps the Palestinians could now take, using the resolution to press the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli leaders, file lawsuits on behalf of specific Palestinians displaced by settlements and urge the international authorities to determine whether Israel is violating the Geneva Conventions.

"We are looking to devise a comprehensive vision, and hopefully 2017 will be the year when the Israeli occupation ends," Mr. Malki said.