Western countries warn Israel over settlement expansion, settler violence
Nine Western countries have jointly urged Zionist regime to halt settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, issuing a statement that also condemned settler violence and warned construction firms against bidding on tenders.
In their Friday statement, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and the Netherlands stressed that such settlements violate international law.
“Over the past few months, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated significantly. Settler violence is at unprecedented levels. The policies and practices of the Israeli government, including a further entrenchment of Israeli control, are undermining stability and prospects for a two-state solution,” the statement said.
According to different human rights groups, Israeli authorities have allowed settlers to act with impunity in attacks against Palestinians. In February, Israel approved a plan to designate large areas of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank as “state property.” More than 700,000 Jewish settlers currently live in illegal settlements there.
“International law is clear: Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal. Construction projects in the E1 area would be no exception,” the statement read, adding that development would divide the occupied West Bank in two and mark a serious breach of international law.
The plan to build thousands of new housing units in the E1 area, east of occupied Al-Quds, would link the illegal Ma’ale Adumim settlement with Al-Quds, effectively bisecting the West Bank and isolating Palestinian communities.
“Businesses should not bid for construction tenders for E1 or other settlement developments. They should be aware of legal and reputational consequences of participating in settlement construction, including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law,” the statement said.
“We call on the government of Israel to end its expansion of settlements and administrative powers, ensure accountability for settler violence and investigate allegations against Israeli forces, respect the Hashemite custodianship over Al-Quds's holy sites and the historic status quo arrangements, and lift financial restrictions on the PA (Palestinian Authority) and the Palestinian economy,” it added.