Five Nations Condemn Israel's West Bank Settlement Plan
Summary
Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada have condemned Israel’s plan to build about 1,200 new settlement homes in the E-1 area of the occupied West Bank. The move has drawn warnings that it could deepen instability, weaken prospects for a two-state solution and further isolate East Jerusalem.
Key Points
- Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada called Israel’s settlement plan in the occupied West Bank unacceptable and urged it to withdraw the proposal.
- Israel’s Housing Ministry has invited tenders for 1,234 units in the E-1 area near East Jerusalem, despite legal challenges and international opposition.
- Critics say the project would split the West Bank and undermine the possibility of a continuous Palestinian state.
- The expansion comes amid rising violence in the West Bank and renewed scrutiny of Israel’s settlement policy under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
