UN Security Council: Expansion Of Israeli Settlements In The West Bank Threatens Peace

Construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. (Wikimedia Commons/TrickyH)

JAKARTA - The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously condemned Israel's plan to expand settlement construction in the West Bank. Israel's actions are considered illegal under international law.

A long statement read aloud in the council chamber expressed deep concern and disappointment at Israel's announcement on February 12, 2023, regarding the further construction and expansion of settlements and the legitimacy of settlement outposts.

"The Security Council reiterates that continuing Israeli settlement activities jeopardize the sustainability of the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders," said Malta Envoy to the UN Vanessa Frazier, who served as president of the council for February as quoted from Anadolu via Antara, Tuesday, February 21.

The unanimous vote of the UN Security Council was issued on Monday. Furthermore, the UN Security Council strongly underlined the need for all parties to fulfill international obligations and commitments, and oppose all unilateral actions that hinder peace, including, among other things, the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements.

The Council also opposes the confiscation of Palestinian land and the legalization of settlement posts, the demolition of Palestinian homes, and the transfer of Palestinian civilians.

Through this statement, the Security Council condemned all acts of violence against civilians, including those targeting Palestinians and Israelis, and called on all parties to seek calm and refrain from provocative and incitement actions that could escalate the situation on the ground.

On the Israeli government on February 13, 2023, moved to build 10,000 new settlement homes in the West Bank, and legalize nine settler outposts that were previously illegal under Israeli law.

The announcement drew a strong international reaction, including from the Palestinians, who have been trying to hold a vote at the UN Security Council to condemn the expansion.

Ramallah reportedly agreed to suspend the effort over the weekend after the council agreed to issue a statement regarding Israel's actions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' envoy for Israeli-Palestinian peace, Tor Wennesland, told the council that the international community was witnessing a spike in violence including some of the deadliest incidents in the last two decades while unilateral actions had further divided the two sides, exacerbated tensions, and fueled the conflict.

“Immediate efforts are needed to reduce tensions. But restoring calm is not a recipe for progress by itself," he said.

Wennesland says a large number of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the West Bank and other clashes over the past month.

There is also documentation of attacks in which Israeli civilians were killed in terrorist attacks.

“The current escalation in violence is very worrying. There will never be an excuse for an act of terrorism. Attempts to target civilians must be unambiguously condemned and rejected by all parties. Celebration and praise of such attacks is abhorrent, and must be condemned in the strongest terms," ​​said Wennesland.

Beyond Israel and the occupied territories, the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees warns of the worsening conditions facing those who have fled conflict or been forced to flee their homeland amid the escalating crisis.

"The growing number of Palestinian refugees in the region are on the verge of despair," said Deputy Head of the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Leni Stenseth.

He said that multiple crises, conflicts, the never-ending occupation, the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increase in global food and fuel prices caused by the conflict in Ukraine have pushed more and more Palestinian refugees into poverty.

"This year has recorded the highest number of deaths among Palestinians, including Palestinian refugees," he said.

Meanwhile, the casualties among Israeli citizens are also very concerning.

"We can almost anticipate that the coming weeks are likely to bring more life-changing violence, death, and injury, including for bystanders and children in the West Bank," Stenseth said.