A GROUP of Western nations on Wednesday sharply criticised Israel’s security cabinet for approving 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying the decision contravenes international law and threatens to destabilise an already volatile region.
In a joint statement, Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Canada urged Israel to reverse both the new settlements and the ongoing expansion of existing ones.
“We call on Israel to reverse this decision, as well as the expansion of settlements,” Reuters, on Thursday, cited the statement saying. “We recall that such unilateral actions, as part of a wider intensification of the settlement policies in the West Bank, not only violate international law but also risk fuelling instability.”
The statement reflects widespread international concern that continued settlement expansion undermines the prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians and could heighten tensions across the region.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded to the criticism on X, rejecting the claims and defending the cabinet’s decision.
“Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel, and any such call is morally wrong and discriminatory against Jews,” he said, adding that the settlements were intended to address security threats faced by Israel.
The dispute over settlements in the West Bank, territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, has long been a source of international contention, with most countries viewing settlement construction as illegal under international law. Israel maintains that it has historical and security reasons for the expansion. - December 25, 2025
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