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Canada, UK, France, Germany among 7 countries condemning Israel's West ...
7 countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, have issued a joint statement condemning the worsening situation in the West Bank, warning that Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence are undermining prospects for a two-state solution. In the statement issued on Friday, the leaders of Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom said settler violence in the West Bank had reached “unprecedented levels” in recent months. The countries reiterated that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and warned that proposed construction projects in the E1 area would divide the West Bank in two, marking what they described as a “serious breach of international law.” The statement also urged businesses not to participate in settlement-related construction projects, warning of potential legal and reputational consequences. The seven nations called on the Israeli government to halt settlement expansion, ensure accountability for settler violence, investigate allegations against Israeli forces, and ease financial restrictions imposed on the Palestinian Authority. They also reaffirmed support for a negotiated two-state solution based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. (Newswire) 2026-05-23
9 Western Nations Warn Israel on West Bank Settlements — GrayscaleInsight
Nine Western countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and the Netherlands, issued a joint statement on Friday urging Israel to stop expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank and to address settler violence. The statement called Israeli settlements a “breach of international law” and specifically warned businesses against bidding on construction tenders for the E1 settlement project, which would bisect the West Bank. The signatories also demanded accountability for settler violence and an end to financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority. Nine Western countries on Friday issued a joint statement urging Israel to halt settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and to address a surge in settler violence, warning businesses against participating in construction tenders for the E1 project.The signatories — the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and the Netherlands — said Israeli settlements in the West Bank are a “breach of international law.” The statement, released on May 22, 2026, said: “Over the past few months, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated significantly. Settler violence is at unprecedented levels.”The statement specifically warned businesses not to bid for construction tenders for the E1 settlement project or other settlement developments, citing “legal and reputational consequences.” The E1 project would cover 12 square kilometres (4.6 square miles) east of occupied East Jerusalem, linking the large Ma’ale Adumim settlement with Jerusalem and effectively bisecting the West Bank, isolating Palestinian communities. More than 700,000 Israelis currently live in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.The joint statement called on Israel to “end its expansion of settlements and administrative powers, ensure accountability for settler violence and investigate allegations against Israeli forces.” It also urged Israel to “lift financial restrictions on the PA [Palestinian Authority] and the Palestinian economy.” In February, Israel approved a plan to claim large areas of Palestinian land in the West Bank as “state property.”The diplomatic intervention followed a tense week after Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video of himself taunting foreign activists who had been abducted from a Gaza-bound flotilla. The activists were shown cable-tied and kneeling as Israel’s national anthem played. F...
Western nations condemn Israel for West Bank settlements, settler ...
The joint statement emphasized Israel's E1 settlement expansion project as a violation of international law.Follow us on GoogleHebrew graffiti is seen on a wall in the Safa area of Surif village, north of Hebron in the West Bank on May 17, 2026.(photo credit: Photo by Mosab Shawer / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFMAY 22, 2026 16:55Updated: MAY 22, 2026 17:33The United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand issued a joint statement on Friday condemning Israel for its policies in the West Bank and the rise in settler violence, according to several of the countries' government websites.The statement argued that Israel's West Bank settlements are "illegal," saying that "International law is clear.""Construction projects in the E1 area would be no exception," the statement added, noting that the project would "divide the West Bank in two."The countries warned businesses of "legal and reputational consequences" if they were to join the E1 project, which seeks to add approximately 3,400 housing units to Israeli settlements in the West Bank.FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference, announcing plans to approve more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim, last week. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)The statement called on the Israeli government to "end its expansion of settlements and administrative powers" in the West Bank, further calling for accountability for settler violence.Joint statement: Investigate allegations against IDFAdditional calls were made to "investigate allegations against Israeli forces, respect the Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem’s Holy Sites and the historic status quo arrangements, and lift financial restrictions on the PA and the Palestinian economy."Another condemnation was made against "those, including members of the Israeli government, who argue for annexation and forcible displacement of the Palestinian population."The statement concluded with an affirmation of the countries' commitment to a two-state solution "where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders."Follow us on Google
Italy, France, UK, Germany Urge Israel To End West Bank Settlement ...
Italy, France, Britain and Germany urged Israel Friday to stop expanding its settlements in the West Bank, saying the government was "undermining stability" and prospects for a two-state solution."We call on the government of Israel to end its expansion of settlements and administrative powers, ensure accountability for settler violence and investigate allegations against Israeli forces," said the countries in a joint statement.Noting that the situation in the West Bank had "deteriorated significantly" in the past few months, the countries said settler violence towards Palestinians was at "unprecedented levels". "The policies and practices of the Israeli government, including a further entrenchment of Israeli control, are undermining stability and prospects for a two-state solution," read the statement.The countries condemned Israel's E1 settlement plan -- a new construction project expected to build some 3,400 housing units in the occupied West Bank over 12 square kilometres (4.6 square miles) -- saying it would be a "serious breach of international law"."Businesses should not bid for construction tenders for E1 or other settlement developments. They should be aware of legal and reputational consequences of participating in settlement construction including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law," the countries said.The statement also called on Israel to lift its financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian economy. The four countries also noted that they "strongly oppose those, including members of the Israeli government, who argue for annexation and forcible displacement of the Palestinian population".Since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, near-daily violence has also rocked the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.The joint statement came after a tense week in European-Israeli relations following the publication of a video that revealed the harsh treatment of European activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla while in Israeli custody.Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, published the video that showed activists forced to kneel with their foreheads to the ground and their hands tied. Italy and Spain later called on the EU to sanction Ben Gvir, while Ireland urged the EU to take action against Israel over the activists' treatment, according to a leaked letter seen by AFP. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, summoned Israel's most senior diplomat in Britain...
