Belgium condemns Israel’s E1 settlement expansion
Belgium condemns Israel’s E1 settlement expansion Belgium has condemned Israel’s decision to advance settlement construction in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, warning that the project would further fragment Palestinian territory. In a joint statement issued on Friday, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom called…
Belgium has strongly criticized Israel's decision to expand settlement construction in the E1 area of the West Bank, warning that the move will further fragment Palestinian territory. On Friday, Belgium joined a group of seven other nations - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom - in condemning the Israeli move. They described the construction tenders as "unacceptable."
The coalition of countries stated that the E1 settlement will hinder the prospects of a two-state solution, as it would divide the West Bank and disrupt Palestinian territorial contiguity. They emphasized that the planned settlement would effectively cut the occupied West Bank in half, isolating occupied East Jerusalem from the rest of the Palestinian communities.
The governments also reiterated that "Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal," pointing to international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions to back their claim.
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