The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway have criticised the Israeli Government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 West Bank settlement project.
In a joint statement published on Thursday (20 Aug), the governments said the plans could affect prospects for a two-state solution and raised concerns about the impact on territorial continuity in the Palestinian territories.
The statement said: “The E1 settlement will undermine the prospect of the two-state solution by driving a wedge through the West Bank.”
The leaders also called on Israel to withdraw the plans, stating: “We urge the Government of Israel to retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank.”
The statement reaffirmed support for a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution” and warned businesses of potential legal and reputational consequences linked to involvement in construction tenders.
You could add a balanced final paragraph such as:
The Israeli Government has historically disputed claims that its settlements violate international law and argues that the West Bank’s status should be determined through direct negotiations rather than unilateral international decisions.
Israeli officials have also cited security considerations and historical ties to the area when defending settlement policies.
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