Germany: Legitimizing Israeli Settlements Infringers International Law

Berlin, 8 Rabi’ul Awwal 1438/8 December 2016 (MINA) – Germany urged Israel on Wednesday to scrap legislation that would legalize Israeli settlement homes built on private Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, saying this would break international law.

A German Foreign Ministry spokesman told a regular government news conference, “We’re extremely concerned about this development and have noted with consternation statements made by Israeli government officials during this debate”, the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reported.

“Such a bill violates international law,” he said, adding that Israel would undermine its commitment to finding a “two-state solution” if the bill is passed.

Asked whether Germany and the European Union should punish Israel with economic or diplomatic sanctions, the spokesman said, “We don’t think that sanctions would be the right path in this case to make headway in the Middle East peace process.”

Israel’s parliament gave initial approval on Monday to a revised bill to legalize illegal settlement homes.It must pass three more votes at unspecified future dates before becoming law.(T/P008/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)