Israel: responds to countries denouncing planned settlements in the West Bank by saying, “Foreign governments will not restrict Jewish people’s rights.”
Israel : retaliated against 14 countries demanding that the security cabinet reverse its approval of 19 new settlements in the West Bank.
The unified declaration from 14 countries, including the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Canada, and Japan, was rejected by Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
In a highly worded statement on X, he condemned foreign meddling and said that the Cabinet had authorized the creation of 11 new settlements in Judea and Samaria and planned to formalize eight more.
Israel vehemently disagrees with the foreign statement on the Cabinet decision on settlements in Judea and Samaria, the foreign minister said. Foreign nations will not deny Jews the ability to reside in the Land of Israel, and such a request is discriminatory and immoral.
“Among other things, the Cabinet’s decision to formalize eight more settlements and create 11 new settlements is meant to assist in addressing Israel’s security concerns. The Israeli minister said, “Every settlement is situated on state land in Area C.”
Although the 14-nation joint statement claimed that the Israeli action was against international law, Sa’ar maintained that the San Remo Conference Mandate from 1920 permits Jews to reside in “Mandatory Palestine.”
“Israel complies with international law. At the San Remo Conference in 1920, it was specifically decided to include the 1917 Balfour Declaration in the Mandate. The Mandate states that all of “Mandatory Palestine” is part of the Jewish people’s right to create their national home. Article 80 of the United Nations Charter protected certain rights. The statement on X said, “It is very striking that foreign states have been so silent about the Palestinian Authority’s illegal construction in Area C.”
The Israeli security cabinet’s acceptance of 19 additional settlements in the West Bank was earlier denounced by the 14 countries. They called the Israeli decision “intensification of the settlement politics” in the West Bank, said it breaches international law, and asked that Israel reverse the action.
“We, States of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom condemn the approval by the Israeli security cabinet of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank,” said a joint statement released by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Such unilateral acts, as part of a broader escalation of the settlement practices in the West Bank, not only violate international law but also run the danger of escalating unrest,” the statement said. They run the danger of jeopardizing the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza’s implementation while phase 2 is being worked on and damaging the region’s chances for lasting peace and security.”
The 14 countries have again said that they oppose Israel’s “annexation and the expansion of settlement policies.”
“We recall our clear opposition to any form of annexation and to the expansion of settlement policies, including the approval of the E1 settlement and thousands of new housing units,” the statement said. In accordance with UNSC Resolution 2334, we demand that Israel revoke both this decision and the settlement growth.
“We firmly believe that Palestinians have the right to self-determination. In line with pertinent UN Security Council resolutions, we reiterate our unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just, and long-lasting peace based on the Two-State solution, in which Israel and Palestine, two democratic states, coexist peacefully and securely within recognized borders. “We reiterate that a negotiated two-state solution is the only viable option,” the joint statement said.