UK, Canada, France Among 14 Nations Condemning Israel’s New West Bank Settlements

14 Countries Including UK, Canada and France Condemn Israel’s Approval of New West Bank Settlements

Chatzyr.net | World News

Fourteen countries, including Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Spain, have strongly condemned Israel’s decision to approve 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, escalating international criticism and diplomatic tension with Tel Aviv.

The condemnation followed an announcement on Sunday by Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who confirmed that the Israeli security cabinet had approved the new settlements. Smotrich said the move was intended to block the creation of a Palestinian state, a position that has drawn sharp global backlash.

“On the ground, we are blocking the establishment of a Palestinian terror state,” Smotrich said, reiterating his long-standing support for settlement expansion.

Global Condemnation Over West Bank Settlements

In a joint statement released late Wednesday, 14 nations urged Israel to immediately reverse its decision and halt further settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The statement was signed by Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain.

“We call on Israel to reverse this decision, as well as the expansion of settlements,” the countries said.

They warned that such unilateral actions violate international law and threaten to destabilize the region, particularly amid a fragile Gaza ceasefire that has been in effect since October 10.

Two-State Solution Reaffirmed

The countries reaffirmed their “unwavering commitment” to a two-state solution, emphasizing the need for Israel and Palestine to coexist as democratic states living side by side in peace and security.

“These unilateral actions risk fuelling instability and undermining prospects for a just and lasting peace,” the statement added.

Israel Rejects International Criticism

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected the joint statement in a post on X (formerly Twitter), insisting that foreign governments have no right to dictate where Jews can live.

“Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel,” Saar said, calling the criticism “morally wrong and discriminatory.”

Saar defended the cabinet’s decision, noting that 11 new settlements were approved while eight existing outposts were formally legalized, arguing the move was necessary to address Israel’s security concerns.

Rising International Support for Palestinian Statehood

Since Israel’s military assault on Gaza began in October 2023, following Hamas’s attack on Israel, international calls for Palestinian statehood have intensified. Several countries — including some that signed the condemnation statement — have taken steps toward formally recognizing Palestine.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Excluding East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed in 1967, more than 500,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the West Bank alongside nearly three million Palestinians.

UN Warns Settlement Expansion at Record Levels

Earlier this month, the United Nations warned that Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank — considered illegal under international law — has reached its highest level since at least 2017.

The latest approvals bring the total number of settlements authorized under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to 69 in the past three years, making it one of the most aggressive settlement drives in Israel’s history.

Palestinian Authority Condemns “Annexation Policies”

The Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah, also condemned the decision, accusing Israel of tightening its grip over Palestinian land.

It described the move as part of ongoing “apartheid, settlement, and annexation policies” that undermine the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.