London: The UK, Canada, and several other countries on Wednesday condemned the decision by Israeli occupation authorities to approve a swathe of new colonies in the occupied West Bank.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the statement from the governments of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany expressed their disapproval of the Israeli security cabinet's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The statement emphasized that such unilateral actions violate international law and have the potential to fuel instability in the region.
The statement further noted that these actions could undermine the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza and harm prospects for long-term peace and security across the region. The signatories reiterated their opposition to any form of annexation and the expansion of settlement policies, including the approval of the E1 settlement and the construction of thousands of new housing units.
The countries urged Israel, as the occupying power, to reverse the decision and halt the expansion of settlements, aligning with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.