(VOVworld) – On Tuesday, the United Nations and several countries around the world condemned Israel’s new law legalizing thousands of Israeli homes built on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, saying that it may seriously harm the peace process in the Middle East.

Israeli homes built on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank (Source: VNA)

The United Nations’ Mideast envoy Nickolay Mladenov warned that the law crosses a thick red line, opens floodgates to the potential annexation of the West Bank, and sets a terrible precedent. He called on the international community to condemn the legislation.

The same day, the Arab League in Cairo said the law is only a cover for stealing the land and appropriating the property of Palestinians. Arab League head Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the bill is a continuation of Israeli policies aimed at eliminating any possibility of a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

On Monday, the Israeli Parliament passed a law retroactively legalizing about 4,000 homes built illegally in the West Bank, which all senators of opposition parties voted against.