Israeli settlements undermine efforts to reach peace: Kuwait

KUWAIT: The Cabinet reviewed a range of political issues during its weekly meeting Monday related to the situations in the Arab region and beyond. The Cabinet members condemned the recent declaration by the Israeli authorities of plans to build nearly 5,000 housing units in Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. They stressed that Israel’s persistence in settlement expansions represents a stark contravention of international legitimacy, notably the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, and risks undermining the efforts to reach a comprehensive and permanent peaceful solution to the Palestine question. The Cabinet members called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility for forcing Israel into halting such malpractices.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet members welcomed the success of the first stage of prisoner swap deal between the legitimate government of Yemen and the Houthi militia under the Stockholm Agreement. They appreciated the efforts made in this regard by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN envoy for Yemen. They voiced hope that all prisoners held by both sides would be released as soon as possible in order to help create suitable conditions for the resumption of interYemeni peace talks and end the conflict in the Arab country in keeping with the three points of reference; namely the GCC initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the Yemeni national dialogue and the UN Security Council Resolution 2216.

The Cabinet members also strongly denounced the recent terrorist attack in sisterly Iraq that claimed nine lives and ran counter to all religious, humanitarian and moral values. They renewed solidarity of the State of Kuwait with the Republic of Iraq in the fight against terrorism with a view to preserving the security and stability of Iraq. They offered condolences for the families of the victims.