This is a blatant challenge to the international community desirous of the progress of the Mid-east peace process as it is a reckless act of the right-wing government of Israel to realize its wild ambition for territorial expansion and torpedo the peace process.

The issue of Israel's construction of "settlements" surfaced since the Mid-east peace process started early in the 1990s.

This issue blocked the progress of the peace process the core of which is the solution of the territorial disputes as it was a product of the premeditated scenario of Israel to keep the occupied territory of Palestine as its own for an indefinite period.

The ultra-right forces of Israel seized by the extreme ambition for territorial expansion staged the farce of expanding "settlements" in a big way whenever the peace process showed a sign of certain progress, thus laying a stumbling block in its way. Since the ultra-right forces' seizure of power in March last the international community including Arab countries, therefore, strongly demanded the Israeli authorities halt the construction of "settlements," warning of the danger of their expansion pushing the peace process to collapse.

Israel went ahead with the construction of 2,500 housing units which had already been underway in the "settlements" in Eastern Kuds and West Bank despite its assurance that it would not construct new "settlements." Not content with this, Israel announced a plan to build new "settlements" this time.

The reality goes to prove that Israel is working with blood-shot eyes to achieve its wild ambition for territorial expansion while hoodwinking the international community including the Arab countries under the patronage of the U.S.

The recent decision of the Israeli authorities to construct "settlements" self-exposed that co-existence with Palestine and the progress of the peace process much touted by them are nothing but window-dressing for materializing their plan for building Zionist "Greater Israel".

The history of the Mid-east proves that the expansion of "settlements" is nothing but a foolish and dangerous act of harassing security and peace in the region including Israel as it gives rise to an evil cycle of retaliation between Arabs and Israel.

The Israeli authorities should immediately stop the anachronistic expansion of "settlements" if they truly stand for peace and stability in the region.