European Union Confirms Israel's Plan To Expand Settlements In West Bank Violating International Laws

Head of Foreign Policy for the UE Kaja Kallas. (Twitter/@kajajalallas)

JAKARTA - The European Union (EU) insists Israel's plan to expand settlements in the West Bank violates international law and urges it to be canceled.

In its official statement, the Head of Foreign Policy for the EU Kaja Kallas said Israel's plan to build settlements in an area called E1 would permanently cut off geographical and territorial ties between occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank and cut ties between the north and south West Bank.

"The decision of the Israeli authorities to advance the E1 settlement plan further weakens the two-state solution as well as violates international law," Kallas said in a statement on the EU's official website, as quoted August 15.

Kallas said the EU urged Israel to stop settlement construction in the West Bank. He stressed that Israeli settlement policies, including demolition, forced transfer, eviction and seizure of houses must be stopped.

Coupled with military operations, Kallas continued, violence from continuing settlers, Israel's unilateral decision to outerize settlements exacerbated the tense situation on the ground and further eroded the possibility of peace.

"The European Union urges Israel not to continue with this decision, recording its broad implications and the need to consider actions to protect the continuity of the two-state solution," Kallas stressed.

Earlier, Israeli media on Thursday reported Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approved the construction of 3,401 residential units in Ma'ale Adumim, east of Jerusalem, and 3,515 other units in the surrounding area.

The project aims to divide the West Bank into two parts, cut ties between cities in the north and south, and isolate East Jerusalem.

Standing at the planned settlement site in Maale Adumim on Thursday, Smotrich, who is also a settlers, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had approved construction in an area called E1, although there had been no direct confirmation of the two.

"Anyone in the world who tries to recognize the Palestinian state today will receive our answers in the field. Not with documents, decisions, or statements, but with facts. House facts, settlement facts," Smotrich said.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced the move as part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vision for "Israel Raya", warning it would strengthen the occupation and eliminate the survival of the Palestinian state.

Israel frozen development plans in Maale Adumim in 2012, and once again after being revived in 2020, amid objections from the US, European allies, and other powers that see the project as a threat to a future peace agreement with Palestine.

Re-engaging the project could further isolate Israel, which has witnessed some of its Western allies condemning its military offensive in Gaza and announcing it may recognize the Palestinian state.