German Foreign Minister Condemns Israel's Annexation of West Bank

German Foreign Minister (Menlu) Johann Wadephul. (Wikimedia Commons -  Olaf Kosinsky)

JAKARTA - German Foreign Minister (Menlu) Johann Wadephul has condemned Israel's attempt to annex Palestinian territory in the West Bank and considers it an unacceptable act.

"International law is absolute. Any unilateral de facto annexation is not allowed. In particular, all forms of violence by settlers are unacceptable," Wadephul said at a joint press conference with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer in Berlin, Friday (10/7).

Germany also urged Israel to address the problem of violence by settlers. If this is not done, then the European Union will impose further sanctions on Israeli settlers who commit violence. The status of land in the West Bank must be determined through talks between the Palestinians and Israel, said Wadephul.

After months of debate, the European Union agreed in May to sanction three Israeli extremist settlers and four organizations that support them, for seriously and systematically violating Palestinian human rights.

Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank is one of the main issues in relations with the international community and the Palestinian Authority. According to Russia, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only be possible if the UN-approved "two-state solution" is implemented. The solution is the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.