Latest news with #HamishFalconer
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Israel approves biggest expansion of West Bank settlements in decades
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as in East Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights, are considered illegal under international law. For months, Israel's military has carried out a massive operation in the West Bank, deploying tanks to the territory for the first time in decades and displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians. In February, Katz ordered the military 'to prepare for a prolonged presence' as the military evacuated Palestinian refugee camps. Within the last several weeks, Israeli forces have carried out multiple waves of raids and arrests across the West Bank. He added the new settlements are 'illegal under international law, further imperil the two-state solution, and do not protect Israel.' The decision this week to expand settlements sparked international criticism. The United Kingdom's minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, called the move a 'deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood.' Jordan's foreign ministry also lambasted the move, saying in a statement that it 'represents a deliberate disregard for ongoing international calls to halt settlement activity and violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.' 'All Israeli actions and decisions in the West Bank are illegal and illegitimate,' the statement added. Earlier this month, France joined the UK and Canada to threaten 'concrete actions,' including targeted sanctions against Israel, if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government did not allow far more aid into Gaza and cease settlement expansion in the West Bank. Peace Now blasted the government for making such a decision in the midst of a war. 'The government is making clear – again and without restraint – that it prefers deepening the occupation and advancing de facto annexation over pursuing peace,' the organization said. 'The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise: the annexation of the Occupied Territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal.' The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), were designed to pave the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of a two-state solution.
France 24
3 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Israel is 'sprinting to annex Palestinian territories': Anger over new West Bank settlements
Israel has announced that it's expanding its settlements in the West Bank, in one of its biggest such moves in decades. The American TV channel CBS News says that the announcement has sparked global criticism. The article reminds us that the majority of the international community views settlements as illegal and as the main obstacle to resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict. French left-wing paper Libération says that Israel is "sprinting to annex Palestinian territories". The paper writes that the new plan wants to "dismember" what's left of Palestine. The UK has also condemned the move, the British daily The Independent says. It cites Britain's Middle East minister Hamish Falconer, who wrote on X that the 22 new settlements are a "deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood" and that they "further imperil the two-state solution". An opinion piece in Israeli left-wing paper Haaretz writes about the West Bank's "bulletproof vest theory, calling it "not only wrong, but dangerous". The theory encapsulates the idea that settlements serve as a barrier against terror attacks. The opinion piece says that this shifts the blame from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies. The paper dives deep into past examples of why the theory didn't work and concludes that "[today,] the goal of the settlement enterprise isn't security but to create pretexts for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians". We turn next to the Netherlands, where an uncommon ingredient has been found in sweets. The Dutch paper De Volkskrant reports that cannabis has been found in bags of Haribo cola candy. Several people, including children, felt dizzy and had health complaints after eating the sweets. Some 8,000 kilograms have been recalled. The British daily The Guardian adds that drug smugglers are increasingly using children's candy as a cover-up. They sometimes inject THC into the candy and make THC copies of popular brands that can be found online. Finally, researchers have found a new way to track mental workload. The Guardian reports on a new device called an e-tattoo that can be attached to a person's head. It's a "real-time mental workload decoder" that can warn people they need a rest before it's too late. The e-tattoo is lightweight and wireless, the paper explains. It is made from a thin conductive material and electrodes that detect stress. Researchers say it could be very useful for pilots and healthcare workers, for instance, where it's crucial to prevent fatal incidents caused by extreme fatigue or stress.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UK Slams New Israeli Settlements as an Obstacle to Palestinian Statehood
The UK slammed on Thursday Israel's latest settlement expansion plans in the occupied West Bank. 'The UK condemns these actions,' Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer said on the X social media platform. 'Settlements are illegal under international law, further imperil the two-state solution, and do not protect Israel.' The British government last week imposed new sanctions on three people, two illegal settler outposts and two organizations that they said were supporting violence against the Palestinian community in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said at the time that the illegal settlements were spreading across the West Bank with support of the Israeli government. Israel authorized 22 more Jewish settlements in the West Bank. This would include new settlements and the legalization of outposts already built without government authorization. Defense Minister Israel Katz called the settlement decision 'a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel.' The Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now said the announcement was the most extensive move of its kind since the 1993 Oslo accords that launched the now-defunct peace process. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Palestinians want it to be the main part of their future state. Most of the international community views settlements as illegal and an obstacle to resolving the decades-old conflict. Israel has already built well over 100 settlements across the territory that are home to some 500,000 settlers. The settlements range from small hilltop outposts to fully developed communities with apartment blocks, shopping malls, factories and parks. The West Bank is home to 3 million Palestinians, who live under Israeli military rule.
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
UK ‘condemns' 22 new settlements in occupied West Bank
Twenty-two new settlements in the occupied West Bank represent 'a deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood' by Israel, a Foreign Office minister has warned. Hamish Falconer said the UK 'condemns' the decision, which Israel's defence minister Israel Katz described as 'a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel'. Labour last year in its general election manifesto committed to 'recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution'. In Government, ministers have repeatedly committed to recognising a Palestinian state, but Mr Falconer has previously said they 'will make a judgment about when the best moment is to try and make the fullest possible contribution' to a peace process. Mr Falconer wrote on X: 'The Israeli government's approval of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank is a deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood. 'The UK condemns these actions. 'Settlements are illegal under international law, further imperil the two-state solution, and do not protect Israel.' Mr Katz said the decision to back 22 new West Bank settlements 'strengthens our hold on Judea and Samaria' and 'anchors our historical right in the Land of Israel, and constitutes a crushing response to Palestinian terrorism'. Among the 22 are outposts which have already been built without government authorisation, but will be made legal in Israeli law. Elsewhere, the Israeli government has faced criticism from the Commons International Development Committee chairwoman Sarah Champion. The Labour MP for Rotherham called on UK ministers to say what 'further action' they are taking to keep UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) schools open after attempts to close them. Armed Israeli forces stormed three UNRWA schools in Shu'fat refugee camp in East Jerusalem on May 8, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 'violently evicting' more than 550 Palestinian children. The UK Government found the closure of a total six UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem 'will deny 800 Palestinian children their right to education', according to a letter from minister Baroness Chapman of Darlington to Ms Champion. The international development minister wrote: 'The UK is clear that Palestinian children, like all children, deserve safe, uninterrupted access to school. 'The Israeli order to close these schools is deeply worrying.' Baroness Chapman said she met UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini on May 12 and added that ministers 'have raised these issues consistently with Israeli ministerial counterparts and in public statements with partners'. Responding, Ms Champion said: 'I commend the Government's attempts to defend UNRWA, but Israel's forced closure of UNRWA schools, and the storming of UNRWA's headquarters in East Jerusalem, are sadly only the latest in a long line of actions intended to undermine the work of UNRWA. 'What further action will the UK Government consider to help ensure the continued operation of UNRWA and the reopening of UNRWA-run schools? 'The Government has outlined its work with international counterparts to try and stop military operations in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to enter. 'What discussions is the UK Government having with the United States to try and bring pressure to bear and reopen UNRWA-run schools and restore access for Palestinian refugees to UNRWA services in the West Bank?'
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
UK ‘condemns' 22 new settlements in occupied West Bank
Hamish Falconer said the UK 'condemns' the decision, which Israel's defence minister Israel Katz described as 'a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel'. Labour last year in its general election manifesto committed to 'recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution'. The Israeli government's approval of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank is a deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood. The UK condemns these actions. Settlements are illegal under international law, further imperil the two state solution, and do not protect Israel. — Hamish Falconer MP (@HFalconerMP) May 29, 2025 In Government, ministers have repeatedly committed to recognising a Palestinian state, but Mr Falconer has previously said they 'will make a judgment about when the best moment is to try and make the fullest possible contribution' to a peace process. Mr Falconer wrote on X: 'The Israeli government's approval of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank is a deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood. 'The UK condemns these actions. 'Settlements are illegal under international law, further imperil the two-state solution, and do not protect Israel.' Mr Katz said the decision to back 22 new West Bank settlements 'strengthens our hold on Judea and Samaria' and 'anchors our historical right in the Land of Israel, and constitutes a crushing response to Palestinian terrorism'. Among the 22 are outposts which have already been built without government authorisation, but will be made legal in Israeli law. Elsewhere, the Israeli government has faced criticism from the Commons International Development Committee chairwoman Sarah Champion. The Labour MP for Rotherham called on UK ministers to say what 'further action' they are taking to keep UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) schools open after attempts to close them. Armed Israeli forces stormed three UNRWA schools in Shu'fat refugee camp in East Jerusalem on May 8, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 'violently evicting' more than 550 Palestinian children. The UK Government found the closure of a total six UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem 'will deny 800 Palestinian children their right to education', according to a letter from minister Baroness Chapman of Darlington to Ms Champion. The international development minister wrote: 'The UK is clear that Palestinian children, like all children, deserve safe, uninterrupted access to school. 'The Israeli order to close these schools is deeply worrying.' Baroness Chapman said she met UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini on May 12 and added that ministers 'have raised these issues consistently with Israeli ministerial counterparts and in public statements with partners'. Responding, Ms Champion said: 'I commend the Government's attempts to defend UNRWA, but Israel's forced closure of UNRWA schools, and the storming of UNRWA's headquarters in East Jerusalem, are sadly only the latest in a long line of actions intended to undermine the work of UNRWA. 'What further action will the UK Government consider to help ensure the continued operation of UNRWA and the reopening of UNRWA-run schools? 'The Government has outlined its work with international counterparts to try and stop military operations in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to enter. 'What discussions is the UK Government having with the United States to try and bring pressure to bear and reopen UNRWA-run schools and restore access for Palestinian refugees to UNRWA services in the West Bank?'
