""We, States of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom condemn the approval by the Israeli security cabinet of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank," said a joint statement released by the French foreign ministry. "We recall our clear opposition to any form of annexation and to the expansion of settlement policies," it added."
"They also reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution... where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace and security". Israel has occupied the West Bank following a war in 1967. Excluding east Jerusalem, which was occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, more than 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank, along with about three million Palestinian residents."
Fourteen countries condemned Israel's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank and recalled opposition to annexation and settlement expansion. The countries said the unilateral actions violate international law and risk undermining a fragile ceasefire in Gaza as mediators push for the truce's second phase. They urged Israel to reverse the decision and halt settlement expansion, and reaffirmed commitment to a two-state solution in which Israel and Palestine live side-by-side in peace and security. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. Excluding east Jerusalem, over 500,000 Israelis and about three million Palestinians live in the West Bank.
Read at The Local Germany
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]