14 Countries Condemn Israel’s Approval of New West Bank Settlements

DID Press: Fourteen countries, including France, the UK, Canada and Japan, have condemned Israel’s decision to approve 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, describing the move as a clear violation of international law.

In a joint statement released Wednesday by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their opposition to any annexation of territory and to the expansion of settlement activities. They warned that the settlements are illegal and risk further destabilizing the region.

The signatories cautioned that the decision could undermine implementation of the “comprehensive plan for Gaza” as it enters its second phase, while also harming prospects for long-term peace and security. The countries reiterated their objections to projects linked to the E1 settlement area and to the approval of thousands of additional housing units.

They called on Israel to reverse the decision and to halt settlement expansion “in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2334.” The statement reaffirmed support for the Palestinian right to self-determination and for a negotiated political solution.

The joint declaration underscored a continued commitment to “a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution,” adding that “there is no alternative” to a future in which Israelis and Palestinians live side by side within mutually recognized borders, in peace and security.

Israel’s security cabinet on Sunday approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing the total number approved over the past three years to 69.