France Condemns Israeli Decision to Build 2,000 Settler Units in Occupied West Bank

Rasa - France condemned the Israeli authorities' decision to build around 2,000 housing units in 30 different illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

News ID: 437989

Date: 01 June 2018 - 22:37

RNA - France in a statement slammed the Israeli decision authorizing the construction of the new housing units, including the construction of 92 new housing units near "E1", a large area adjacent to East Jerusalem where Israel intends to expel Palestinian communities in order to expand the illegal settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, WAFA reported.

The French government stressed that such a decision threatens the prospects of establishing a viable and continuous Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital of both Palestinian and Israeli states.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Europe and French Foreign Affairs said the Israeli decision confirms concerns raised over recent Israeli demolition orders against Palestinian Bedouin communities in Jerusalem.

The government of France stressed that settlements are contrary to international law, as stipulated in United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 and that settlements, in all their aspects, lead to the de-facto annexation of the West Bank, undermine the two-state solution, obstruct efforts exerted toward achieving a just and lasting peace and fuel unrest on ground and between people.

"On 22 December, the President of the French Republic requested a halt to settlement activities in order to maintain a credible political horizon," said the spokeswoman.

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