Israel is asked to hand over to the PA the funds raised in its name to “maintain economic stability” in the West Bank
The G7 and the European Union (EU) have condemned the announcement by the Israeli authorities on the expansion, creation and legalisation of new settlements, as well as the confiscation of nearly thirteen square kilometres of territory in the West Bank, the largest since the Oslo Accords, measures they have described as “inconsistent” with international law and “counterproductive to the cause of peace”.
The foreign ministers of the G7 countries and the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, have expressed their rejection of the announcement by the Israeli Finance Minister, the far-right Bezalel Smotrich, on the legalisation of five settlements in the West Bank, as well as the decision to build another 5,300 housing units in settlements and establish another three in the Palestinian territories.
“We reaffirm our commitment to a lasting and sustainable peace in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, based on a two-state solution,” they said in a joint statement, reiterating their opposition to settlement expansion. “We urge the Government of Israel to reverse this decision,” they stressed.
They also stressed that “maintaining economic stability in the West Bank is key to regional security” and acknowledged that, although the Israeli authorities have recently handed over part of the funds raised on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, further steps are needed to transfer the full amount owed.
“We call on Israel to release all settlement proceeds withheld in accordance with the Paris Protocols, remove or relax measures that exacerbate the economic situation in the West Bank, and take the necessary steps to ensure that appropriate banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks continue to operate, with appropriate controls,” they concluded.
Smotrich announced in late June the legalisation of five settlements in the West Bank in response to the recognition of the State of Palestine by Spain, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia and Armenia. All settlements are illegal under international law, although Israel distinguishes between those for which it has given permission and those for which it has not.
The government had previously announced that it was authorising the return of settlers to three West Bank settlements evacuated under the 2005 ‘Disengagement Plan’, which saw Israel withdraw from the Gaza Strip and several West Bank settlements, while last week it confirmed the confiscation of land in this part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.