JERUSALEM (Chatnewstv.com) — More than 20 countries, along with the European Union’s top diplomat, on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to advance settlement construction in the contested E1 area near Jerusalem, calling it a violation of international law that threatens prospects for peace.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom said the plan would undermine a two-state solution. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also signed the statement.
“The decision by the Israeli Higher Planning Committee to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area, east of Jerusalem, is unacceptable and a violation of international law,” the ministers said. “We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms.”
The statement cited Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s own remarks that the plan would effectively block the creation of a Palestinian state by cutting off territorial continuity and limiting Palestinian access to Jerusalem.
“This brings no benefits to the Israeli people. Instead, it risks undermining security and fuels further violence and instability, taking us further away from peace,” the ministers said.
They urged Israel to halt settlement expansion in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 and to lift restrictions on Palestinian Authority finances.
“The Government of Israel still has an opportunity to stop the E1 plan going any further. We encourage them to urgently retract this plan,” the statement said.
