The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has remarked that Israel’s plans to build more than 3,000 new homes to expand a settlement that would divide the West Bank are “a new violation of international law” and “attack” the solution of two states.
This was stated by Albares in a message on the social network ‘X’, shortly after the UN and the European Union also condemned and rejected this decision of the Israeli government, ensuring that any territorial change must be the result of a political agreement between the parties.
“The decision of the Israeli government to build 3,000 housing in the West Bank is a new violation of international law. Attacks the viability of the solution of two states, the only way for peace. We condemn the expansion of settlements and the violence of the settlers,” said the minister.
The EU Reaction
The EU exterior spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said that “the EU position is that it rejects any territorial change that is not part of a political agreement between the parties involved.”
She has also reiterated the call to Israel “to stop the construction of settlements” and has urged “to give up this decision, pointing out its deep implications and the need to consider measures to protect the viability of the solution of two states.”
“The Israeli settlement policy, which includes demolitions, forced transfers, evictions and housing confiscations, must cease,” she stressed, after emphasizing that, if implemented, this construction “will permanently cut the territorial contiguity between the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as the connection between the north and the south of the West Bank.”
In this sense, she highlighted that “these unilateral decisions,” which join the “continuous” violence of settlers and military operations, “are aggravating a situation already tense on the ground and mining even more any possibility of peace.”
United Nations Asks to Stop Construction
The United Nations General Secretariat has also manifested in this regard, asking Israel to “do not do so and stop the progress of this process.” In addition, it recalled that its position on settlements “is clear”: they contravene international law and “further consolidate the occupation and move away the possibility of a solution of two states.”
From the United States, a spokesman for the State Department, when asked about it, has limited himself to saying that “a stable daughter keeps Israel safe and conforms to the objective of this administration to achieve peace in the region,” according to a statement sent to Europa Press.
On the eve, Smotrich announced a plan to build more than 3,000 new homes as part of a controversial urban plan to connect Jerusalem east with the MAALE ADUMIM settlement, claiming that the measure “buries the idea of a Palestinian state.” With this plan, he hopes to double the population of the settlement with 35,000 new residents planned in the coming years.
Impact on the Two-State Solution
The expansion of settlements poses a significant threat to the prospect of a two-state solution, which has long been viewed as the only viable pathway to peace in the region. According to various analysts, the proposed housing developments will create physical barriers between Palestinian communities, significantly hindering their economic and social development.
These actions are seen not only as provocative but as a calculated move to alter the demographic balance in the area. Many believe that such developments are aimed at cementing Israeli control, thereby diminishing the chances for independent Palestinian governance.
International Responses
Global reactions to this escalated settlement activity have been overwhelmingly negative. Countries and organizations around the world are watching closely, often issuing statements of concern and urging Israel to reconsider its course of action. Diplomats argue that continued settlement expansion undermines trust between the two sides, making future negotiations increasingly difficult.
Moreover, international bodies like the UN and the EU have been vocal in their disapproval. They highlight the importance of adhering to international law and emphasize that unilateral actions contravene UN resolutions aimed at fostering peace.
The ongoing conflict continues to be a focal point in international diplomacy, raising questions about the potential for future negotiations amidst rising tensions.