EU presses Israel to stop West Bank settlement expansion
The EU warning followed Israeli approval of funding for 34 new settlements and reports of Palestinian children injured in settler violence.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
The European Union urged Israel to stop expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying the policy threatens prospects for a Palestinian state. The call came after Israel approved new settlement funding and as Palestinian reports described children injured in violence involving settlers and Israeli forces.
An EU spokesperson said Friday that Israel should halt the legalisation of settlement outposts, the seizure of land, home demolitions, forced removals of Palestinians and other unilateral steps. The spokesperson said such measures weaken the chances of a two-state settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to Al Jazeera, the statement followed a decision by Israel’s security cabinet to allocate 1.3 billion shekels, or about $427.8 million, for 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Al Jazeera described the package as one of Israel’s largest recent investments in settlement growth.
EU divisions over settlement trade
The United Nations, the International Court of Justice and most countries regard Israeli settlements on land occupied by Israel since 1967 as illegal under international law. Israel disputes that position.
The EU says it does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over territories Israel occupied in 1967. The 27-country bloc, however, has not agreed on a stronger collective response to Israeli settlement policy.
Al Jazeera reported that EU foreign ministers this week did not reach consensus on proposals that could limit trade with settlements in the occupied West Bank. Several member states have called for firmer measures, according to the report.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, speaking before talks among EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, said members broadly agreed that conditions in the West Bank had become intolerable. She said developments there were making a two-state solution increasingly difficult to achieve.
Children injured in West Bank incidents
The diplomatic push came amid continuing violence in the occupied West Bank. According to Al Jazeera, Palestinians, including children, have been injured in separate incidents involving Israeli settlers and Israeli forces.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that two Palestinian children were taken to hospital Friday after sustaining head and facial injuries in the Wadi al-Sha’er area. Wafa said Israeli settlers allegedly threw stones at the vehicle carrying the children and their family.
In a separate incident, a 16-year-old Palestinian boy was shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, according to Al Jazeera. The boy remained in hospital, the report said.
Palestinian officials and international partners have criticised Israel’s latest settlement funding decision, according to Al Jazeera. The EU’s latest statement adds to international pressure on Israel over settlement construction, while the bloc remains split over whether to attach economic consequences to that policy.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.