“The PNA can never enjoy real progress and economic development with 65 per cent of its lands [Zone C] under full Israeli control,” the statement said, stressing that Zone C includes all Palestinian natural resources including water, natural gas, construction materials and mines.

“Israeli’s aggressive, systematic and cleansing policies have forced an enormous number of Palestinians out of their lands in Zone C,” the statement said.

The PNA believes that the role of the international community is fundamental to successfully resolving Palestinian concerns. “The international community should play an active role in enabling Palestinians to take over Zone C to launch development projects,” the government statement said. “The international community should accept its responsibilities and stop the illegal Israeli practices which create a dark future for all the parties involved,” the statement added.

The Palestinian government maintains that it is ready to take over Zone C and even run an independent Palestinian state in it, but argues that it can not wait indefinitely. “The international community should make a choice: either bring an end to the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian Territories or apartheid conditions on the ground will continue,” said the statement.