Mr. Alex Dunne:

On the issue of Palestinians being required to apply to the Israeli military for planning permission, the military occupation should not be confused with normal practice because it is not a normal practice. International law supersedes military law on the ground. Since 2009, which is roughly the period we have been discussing, the number of Israeli settlers living illegally in the occupied West Bank has increased by approximately 100,000. Since the Oslo Accords were signed, the number of settlers has increased by 270,000.

As we noted in our opening statement, one of the challenges, according to former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, is that the planning process is “restrictive, discriminatory and incompatible with requirements under international law [...] favours Israeli settlement interests over the needs of the protected population and makes it practically impossible for Palestinians living in Area [...] to obtain building permits".