EU Slams Israeli Settlement Expansion as Illegal

Brussels, MINA – The European Union (EU) condemned Wednesday the recent decision of the Israeli government to expand illegal Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.

Israeli authorities further promoted plans, tenders and permits for thousands of settlement units across the West Bank, including; for the first time since 2002, in the heart of Hebron, KUNA reported, citing a spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini in a statement this week,

“We have also seen reports of construction work starting for the first new settlement in 20 years; Amihai, and of preparatory ground work being initiated in the sensitive area of Givat Hamatos in East Jerusalem, where further settlement construction would severely jeopardize the contiguity and viability of a future Palestinian state,” it said.

The EU has requested clarifications from Israeli authorities and conveyed the expectation that they reconsider these decisions, which are detrimental to on-going efforts towards meaningful peace talks.

“The EU’s position on Israeli settlement construction and related activities, including recent evictions in East Jerusalem and plans leading to forced transfer of Bedouin communities in the West Bank, is clear and has not changed: all settlement activity is illegal under international law, and it undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for a lasting peace,” stressed the statement. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)