Berlin: Germany, Italy, France, and Britain jointly called on Israel to adhere to international law and safeguard Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian Territory. The foreign ministers of these nations issued a statement strongly condemning the surge in violence by colonists against Palestinian civilians, urging stability in the West Bank. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the ministers highlighted that colonists' attacks have escalated to unprecedented levels, with 264 incidents recorded in October as reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This figure marks the highest number of colonists' attacks documented in a single month since the UN began tracking such incidents in 2006. The ministers emphasized the need for these attacks to cease, warning that they instill fear in civilians and undermine efforts towards achieving peace and lasting security. They stressed the importance of restoring stability in the West Bank, noting that destabilizi ng actions threaten the success of the 20-point plan for Gaza and the prospects for long-term peace and security. They called on the Israeli government to fulfill its obligations under international law by ensuring the protection of the Palestinian population in the occupied territory. The ministers urged accountability for those responsible for the violence and for concrete measures to address its root causes. The statement also welcomed President Trump's clear opposition to annexation plans and reiterated the rejection of any form of annexation-partial, total, or de facto-along with settlement policies that violate international law. After the official approval of the E1 settlement project in August 2025, which would fragment the West Bank, more than 3,000 settlement units have been approved in the past three weeks, raising the total approved since January to 28,000 units, a record high. The ministers called on the Israeli government to reverse this policy. Furthermore, the ministers criticized the Israe li government's continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues as unjustified, urging Israel to release the funds, expand correspondent banking arrangements between Israeli and Palestinian banks, and allow increased shekel transfers. They asserted that these steps are crucial for the well-being of Palestinian citizens and the Palestinian Authority's ability to provide public services. The ministers warned that undermining the Palestinian Authority hampers its ability to implement its reform agenda and assume responsibilities in Gaza, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2803. They cautioned that a financial collapse of the Palestinian Authority would destabilize the region. In conclusion, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a just and comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution, emphasizing that there is no alternative to this negotiated solution.
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