Israeli expansion of Judea, Samaria communities draws international rebuke

“We recall our clear opposition to any form of annexation and to the expansion of settlement policies,” said 14 mainly European countries, led by France.

(JNS) Israel’s decision this week to approve new communities in Judea and Samaria violates international law and risks “fueling instability,” 14 countries, including France, Germany and Italy, said on Wednesday.

“They risk undermining the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza amid efforts to progress to phase two and harming prospects for long term peace and security across the region,” the countries alleged.

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom also joined the statement. Several of those countries have also recognized a Palestinian state recently.

The statement came after the Israeli security cabinet approved the communities on Sunday. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the goal was to help prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The United Nations said earlier this month that Israeli settlement expansion reached its highest rate since at least 2017.

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