Key Takeaways
- Fourteen countries, including Britain, Canada, Denmark, and France, have condemned Israel’s plans to expand illegal West Bank settlements
- The countries expressed "resolute support" for Palestinians and called for Israel to reverse its decision to expand settlements
- Israel’s actions have been deemed illegal under international law and pose a risk to the fragile truce in Gaza
- The expansion of settlements is seen as a major obstacle to a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians
- The international community has reaffirmed its commitment to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the Two-State solution
Introduction to the Condemnation
Fourteen countries, including Britain, Canada, Denmark, and France, have come together to condemn Israel’s approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The countries have expressed their strong opposition to the move, stating that it is illegal and jeopardizes the Gaza ceasefire and "long-term peace and security across the region." The joint statement emphasizes that Israel’s actions "violate international law" and risk undermining the fragile truce in Gaza, where mediators are working to implement the second phase of the ceasefire in a war that has seen Israeli forces kill almost 71,000 Palestinians.
Israel’s Response to the Condemnation
Israel has hit back at the criticism, calling it discriminatory. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that "foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel, and any such call is morally wrong and discriminatory against Jews." This response comes after Israel’s far-right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that authorities had greenlit the settlements plan, explicitly stating that the decision was aimed at preventing the establishment of a future Palestinian state. Smotrich’s comments have been seen as a clear indication of Israel’s intentions to continue expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The Expansion of Settlements
The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory has reached its highest level since at least 2017, according to the United Nations. The UN considers Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank a major obstacle to a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. The illegal constructions leave little contiguous territory for Palestinians and a future independent Palestinian state under a two-state solution. The decision by the Israeli government to approve 19 new settlements has been seen as a strategic move to change the reality on the ground for Palestinians. Many of the settlement outposts formalized in the latest decision are concentrated in the northeastern part of the West Bank, which had traditionally seen very little settlement activity.
The Impact on Palestinians
The decision by the Israeli government is changing the reality on the ground for Palestinians. The expansion of settlements is seen as a way to support the more ideological and often more violent settlers who are entrenching their presence and taking over yet more Palestinian land. The attacks against Palestinians are becoming more brazen and unprecedented in scope and effect. The international community has expressed its concern over the situation, with the fourteen countries reaffirming their commitment to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the Two-State solution. The countries have called on Israel to reverse its decision to expand settlements and to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The International Community’s Stance
The international community has been clear in its opposition to Israel’s expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. The fourteen countries that condemned Israel’s actions have expressed their "resolute support" for Palestinians and have called for Israel to reverse its decision. The countries have also reaffirmed their commitment to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the Two-State solution. The United Nations has also spoken out against the expansion of settlements, stating that it is a major obstacle to a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. The international community’s stance on the issue is clear