France To Canada Condemns Israel's New Settlement Expansion Plan In The West Bank

JAKARTA - Foreign ministers from 21 countries, including the European Union, on Thursday condemned the Israeli authorities' approval of plans to expand Israeli settlements in the E1 region, West Bank, Palestine.

In a joint statement, foreign ministers called for the immediate cancellation of the project as hard as possible.

"The decision of the Israeli High Planning Committee to approve a settlement development plan in the E1 region, east of Jerusalem, is unacceptable and is a violation of international law," Australian, Belgian, Canadian, Danish, Danish, Estonian, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Britain said in a joint statement, according to WAFA 22 August.

The main diplomats warned that the decision "does not bring benefits to the Israeli people. Instead, the decision risks damaging security and triggering violence and further instability, which further distances us from peace."

"The Israeli government still has the opportunity to stop the E1 plan further. We urge them to immediately cancel this plan," the statement exclaimed.

They assert, "any unilateral action by the Israeli government undermines our collective desire for security and prosperity in the Middle East."

They urged the Israeli government to "stop settlement construction in accordance with UN DK Resolution 2334 and lift their restrictions on the Palestinian Authority's finances."

As previously reported, a large construction project that will build about 3,400 housing units in the controversial E1 area of the West Bank, between Jerusalem and the Ma'ale Adumim settlement, has received final approval on Wednesday.

Announced last week by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the controversial plan was officially approved by the Civil Administration High Planning Committee, a department at the Ministry of Defense.

Smotrich, who also holds the position of junior minister at the Ministry of Defense who gave him broad authority in settlement development, called the decision "historic."

He described the construction plan as a "significant measure that practically eliminates two countries' woes and strengthens the grip of Jews at the heart of the Land of Israel."

"The Palestinian state is being removed from the table, not with a slogan but with action. Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea," Smotrich said.

The new project involves the construction of 3,400 new colonial units in occupied Palestinian territories. Most of the units will be built near the existing Maale Adumim colony, in areas aimed at connecting colonies in the occupied West Bank with occupied East Jerusalem.

The plan also includes 342 units in new settlements in Asael, south of the West Bank.