A group of 12 EU countries called on Israel to reverse its plans to build 3,000 new settler homes in the West Bank.
“We urge the Government of Israel to reverse its decision,” says the joint statement signed by the foreign ministries of Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain and Sweden.
“We reiterate our strong opposition to its policy of settlement expansion across the Occupied Palestinian territories, which violates international law and undermines efforts for the two-state solution,” the satatement added.
They also called on “both parties” to co-operate and reduce tensions towards “creating the conditions necessary for promoting peace”.
Israel moved forward on Wednesday with plans to build some 3,000 homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, defying the Biden administration’s strongest criticism to date of such projects.
A senior Palestinian official said the decision showed that Israel’s new government, led by far-right politician Naftali Bennett, was “no less extreme” than the administration of the veteran leader he replaced, Benjamin Netanyahu, Reuters reported.
An Israeli official said a planning forum of Israel’s liaison office with the Palestinians gave preliminary approval
for plans to build 1,344 housing units and its final go-ahead for projects to construct 1,800 homes.
