- Germany ‘firmly rejects the Israeli government’s announcements regarding the approval of thousands of new housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank’
Berlin – Germany on Friday issued a strong call on the Israeli government to halt all settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, following the announcement by Israel’s far-right finance minister of plans to begin work on thousands of new housing units that would effectively bisect Palestinian territory.
“Germany firmly rejects the Israeli government’s announcements regarding the approval of thousands of new housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in an official statement.
Berlin expressed particular concern over the long-debated “E1” settlement project and the expansion of Maale Adumim, warning that such moves would severely restrict the mobility of Palestinians, effectively splitting the West Bank in two and cutting it off from East Jerusalem.
The announcement came after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confirmed on Thursday that work would start on building 3,401 settler homes between an existing West Bank settlement and Jerusalem. Smotrich’s office described the project as a decisive blow to the prospect of a Palestinian state.
Germany reiterated its long-standing position that settlement construction in occupied territory violates international law and UN Security Council resolutions, and undermines efforts to achieve a peaceful, negotiated two-state solution.
“Such unilateral measures jeopardize prospects for peace and make it more difficult to reach a fair and lasting resolution to the conflict,” the spokesperson stressed, urging Israel to take steps that contribute to de-escalation and renewed dialogue.
BY: The Times Union
