15 nations tell Israel to reverse WB plan for settler homes
Agencies
BERLIN: Fifteen European nations on Friday urged Israel to drop plans for thousands more settler homes in the West Bank, warning that they “stand in the way” of lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
“The new housing units would constitute an additional obstacle to the two-state solution,” said the countries in a statement issued by their foreign ministries. “Israeli settlements are in clear violation of international law and stand in the way of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Israel advanced plans on Thursday for 4,427 housing units for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, an Israeli NGO said.
The civil administration’s high planning committee gave final approval to 2,791 units and initial endorsement for another 1,636 units, said Peace Now, an organisation that closely monitors Israeli settlement building.
Israel seized the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967. Since then, nearly 700,000 Israelis have moved into settlements that most of the international community regard as illegal.
The 15 countries signing up to Friday’s statement include France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
EU ‘appalled’ by ‘force’ of Israel police at funeral
The EU said it was “appalled” by the “unnecessary force” used by Israeli police at a Jerusalem hospital ahead of the funeral of slain Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
“EU and likeminded partners attended the funeral of Shireen Abu Akleh in occupied east Jerusalem. Appalled by the violence in the St Joseph Hospital compound and the level of unnecessary force exercised by Israeli police throughout the funeral procession,” the EU said in a tweet.