A/HRC/19/20 circumstances of the killings mentioned above indicate the necessity for Israeli security forces to reassess open-fire regulations with a view to preventing such incidents. Furthermore, the issue of lack of accountability remains a serious concern. 2. Discriminatory practices underlying settlement expansion and impunity for settler violence 26. Despite the illegality of settlements under international law, Israeli settlement expansion continued in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and was accompanied by a regime of policies detrimental to the rights of Palestinians. About half a million Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.23 Throughout the reporting period the Government of Israel continuously announced plans for new construction and the expansion of existing settlements in the occupied West Bank, including in East Jerusalem.24 Moreover, Israeli-imposed restrictions specifically targeting Palestinian construction are blatantly discriminatory (A/66/364, para. 8). 27. While Israeli settlement expansion continues, Palestinians throughout the West Bank, particularly in Area C and in East Jerusalem, continue to face significant restrictions on construction, which severely affects their needs and rights. As noted by the Secretary-General, Israel continues “to impose restrictions on land allocation and planning for Palestinian construction. Israel‟s discriminatory planning restrictions result in the lack of building permits for the Palestinian population in the West Bank forcing them to build without building permits and live under the constant threat of eviction and demolition” (A/66/364, para. 10).25 According to OCHA, the total number of Palestinian structures demolished by Israeli authorities during the reporting period is 574, including 203 residential structures, which led to the displacement of at least 957 Palestinians. In its consideration of Israel, the Human Rights Committee concluded that the planning regimes in the West Bank, in particular in Area C and in East Jerusalem, are discriminatory and disproportionately favour the Israeli population of those areas (CCPR/C/ISR/CO/3, para. 17). 28. Violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers continued to be reported throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Attacks by settlers against Palestinians and their property take various forms, including attacks with live ammunition and baseball bats, the cutting of trees, stone throwing and the vandalizing and torching of mosques, in addition to other various types of assault. According to OCHA, the weekly average of settler attacks against Palestinian communities resulting in Palestinian injuries and property damage increased by 40 per cent in 2011 in comparison to 2010 and by more than 165 23 24 25 10 Peace Now, West Bank and Jerusalem Map, January 2011. Available from www.peacenow.org.il/eng/content/west-bank-and-jerusalem-map-2011. In October 2011 the Government of Israel announced plans for the construction of Givat Hamatos, a new settlement. Chris McGreal, “Israel plans new settlement of 2,600 that will isolate Arab East Jerusalem”, Guardian, 16 October 2011. Available from www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/16/israel-settlement-isolate-arab-jerusalem. See also Peace Now, “Givat Hamatos - a new Israeli neighborhood in East Jerusalem”, 13 October 2011. Available from www.peacenow.org.il/eng/GivatHamatosEng. For a detailed description of the restrictions and concerns for East Jerusalem see the report of the Secretary-General A/66/364, paras. 13-18; for Area C of the West Bank, see paras. 19 and 20.