“I have believed for a long time that Israel wants this al-Aqsa Mosque simply not to exist.”-Mark Dankof

August 11, Israel orders the construction of 1,200 illegal settlement homes around al Quds (Jerusalem).  On top of that one Israeli official said they are about to authorize another 2,700 more homes in occupied Palestinian territory.

Some officials say they’re going ahead with the illegal settlement homes to address the bad economy that so many Israelis are protesting.  Officials say the settlements will provide affordable housing.

The European Union says Israel’s continued illegal settlement construction guarantees there will be no peace: “Settlement activity threatens the viability of an agreed two state solution and undermines ongoing efforts to resume negotiations.”-Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Egyptian and Russian officials have stressed that the settlements are illegal.  They violate UN resolution 452, which bans settlement construction in occupied Palestinian territory.