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File - In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 file photo, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledges applause after his address to the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters. Netanyahu was Israel's youngest prime minister at age 46 when he upset Shimon Peres in the 1996 election. His first term, till 1999, was marked by a slowdown in the peace process with the Palestinians despite agreeing to implement agreements signed by his predecessors. He returned to office in 2009 and serves as prime minister to this day, making him the second longest tenured leader after David Ben-Gurion.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) Image Credit: AP

Even the State Department of the United States could not remain silent regarding Israeli government’s announcement on the construction of new colonies, said UAE’s Al Bayan.

“From the US [State] Department’s point of view, this is a move that deserves to be denounced because it contradicts the Zionist entity’s previous stated commitments that it will refrain from building new colonies. Despite disagreements between US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US never stopped its aid for Israel, with a recent historic agreement to provide $40 billion (Dh147.12 billion) in aid for the Zionist entity. What upset the US this time around is the fact that Israel has revealed a truth that can no longer be concealed from anyone. Israel does not want any settlement at all, even under conditions set by the US, which do not differ very much from conditions and terms set by Israel.”

This week, both the White House and US State Department not only slammed Israel for new colony constructions in the West Bank, but practically called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a liar for doing so, said the Saudi Gazette. “The White House accused Israel of a betrayal of trust, saying Netanyahu’s word had been called into question and that it had received public assurances from the Israeli government that contradicted the announcement. Last week’s blunt criticism from the US once again raises speculation in Israel that US President Barack Obama is gearing up to support a United Nations initiative on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the waning days of his administration. Many expect the US president, in an effort to shore-up his legacy, to support a UN resolution. This is a prospect that Israel dreads because of its history of strained relations with the organisation ...”

The attack carried out by Mesbah Abu Sbaih on Israeli police came a few days after Israel approved the building of 142 new colonies in Occupied Jerusalem and its surrounding areas, said Oman’s Al Watan. The paper said: “The US and its allies view Israeli crimes as acts of self-defence. The Palestinians are left to linger in overwhelming anger and a strong desire to send a message to a world that claims it flies the banner of human rights, justice, democracy and equality. That is why this recent attack was not merely an act of hate towards life, but rather a response to Israel’s crimes against Palestinians in and outside [occupied] Jerusalem. The Palestinians also find themselves confused and frustrated due to a division between their two biggest factions: Hamas and Fatah. This factor assisted the Israeli war machine and its Judaisation and colonial plans on what’s left of the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem.”

The US, which condemned Israel’s decision to build new colonies, is the same country that signed, a few days earlier, an agreement to grant Israel $38 billion in aid over the course of 10 years, said Palestine’s Al Quds. “The agreement also stipulates that the US will provide additional aid if it is deemed ‘urgent’ by Israel. The US is the one that can exert pressure on Israel to stop its violations against the Palestinian people and achieve the international community’s vision of two states for two people.”