& nbsp;
Fifteen European countries, including Greece, France, Germany and Italy, today called on Israel to reconsider a project to build more than 4,000 homes in the West Bank.
“We are deeply concerned. for the decision of the Israeli planning council to advance the plans for the construction of more than 4,000 homes in the West Bank. “We call on the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision,” the foreign ministers of 15 European countries wrote in a joint statement.
Israel yesterday approved the construction of nearly 4,500 homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a Palestinian state occupied by the Jewish state since 1967, of which more than 2,700 received final approval, according to the Israeli anti-settlement organization & # 8220; Peace Now & # 8221; (Peace Now).
All Jewish settlements are illegal under international law. Also, the “arbitrary” Jewish settlements are considered illegal by Israel, because they were built without the permission of the Israeli authorities.
In a statement, European foreign ministers called on Israelis “not to carry out the planned demolition or eviction, especially in Masafar Yata.” with eviction in a deserted area of the occupied West Bank, which is considered by the Israeli army as a training ground.
The previous day, Israel's Supreme Court had agreed with the military that the Masafer Yata area, home to 12 Palestinian villages in the Judea Desert at the southern end of the West Bank, had been a firing range since 1980. the road to possible eviction of residents and construction of housing for potential settlers.
“New housing units could be an additional obstacle to a two-state solution,” warn diplomats from 15 countries: Greece, France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands. , Norway, Spain and Sweden.
According to the Foreign Ministers, “Israeli settlements clearly constitute a violation of international law and impede a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”
This European position came during the funeral of journalist Sirin Abu & # 8216; Akleh, who was fatally shot in the head in the occupied West Bank while covering an Israeli military raid on the city of Jenin, amid persistent violence. The approval for the construction of new houses was announced the day after the journalist's death.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
& nbsp;
“Barouti” the West Bank: Wild episodes at the funeral of Al Jazeera journalist & # 8211; Dead Israeli soldier
