Global Outrage Over Israeli Settlement Plan in West Bank
A controversial Israeli settlement plan aimed at cutting off the occupied West Bank from Jerusalem has drawn sharp international condemnation from Middle Eastern and European governments, as well as international organizations.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the decision on Thursday, calling it a 'blatant disregard' for international law and United Nations resolutions, designed to undermine Palestinian territorial unity and the two-state solution.
Saudi Arabia denounced the approval of new settlements around occupied Jerusalem in the 'strongest terms,' labeling it an illegal expansionist policy and a grave threat to peace efforts.
Qatar described the move as a 'flagrant violation' of international legitimacy and urged the global community to take decisive action to halt Israel's settlement expansion.
Egypt condemned the plan to construct 3,400 housing units, calling it a 'gross breach' of international law and UN Security Council resolutions, warning it could alter the demographic makeup of the occupied territories.
Jordan rejected the project outright, describing it as an 'assault on the Palestinian people's right' to establish an independent state. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also labeled the plan 'illegal colonialism' that must end immediately.
European Opposition
Germany expressed firm opposition, stating that the settlements violate international law. Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares echoed the sentiment, warning that the move undermines the two-state solution.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed that advancing the 'E1' plan damages peace prospects and breaches international law.
Details of the Settlement Expansion
According to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Bezalel Smotrich — a senior minister also overseeing settlement affairs within the Ministry of Defense — announced the approval of 3,401 new units near Ma'ale Adumim and 3,515 more in surrounding areas.
The 'E1' plan seeks to link Jerusalem to nearby settlements in the occupied West Bank, such as Ma'ale Adumim, by confiscating Palestinian land and building new settlements, effectively preventing any future Palestinian territorial expansion in the area.
Escalating Violence in the West Bank
Alongside the war on Gaza, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,014 Palestinians and wounded nearly 7,000 in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since October 7, 2023. More than 18,500 have been arrested, according to Palestinian figures.
Israel, with U.S. backing, continues its military campaign in Gaza — widely described by Palestinians and rights groups as genocide — involving mass killings, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, in defiance of international calls and International Court of Justice orders to stop.
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