BRUSSELS, 13 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The European Union has expressed this Monday its rejection of the announcement published on Sunday by the Government of Israel recognizing nine Jewish settlements in the West Bank in retaliation for the recent attacks.
“The European Union rejects this decision and reiterates its position that it considers that all settlements are illegal under International Law and that it will not recognize any changes to the 1967 borders that have not been agreed by the parties,” the Service has published. of EU External Action in a statement.
Thus, it encourages the Israeli authorities to stop construction in the settlements “and to urgently reverse these latest decisions.”
In addition, Brussels has expressed its “serious concern” about the “tensions” and the “growing violence” in the area. “In this worrying context it is important that there are steps to reduce the tension and avoid unilateral decisions and actions that undermine the viability of a negotiated two-state solution to this conflict and further fuel the tension,” she argued.
Finally, the EU has expressed its willingness to “help the parties rebuild the path that leads to dialogue and collaboration to reverse this negative cycle of violence and thus avoid further loss of life.”
The decision of the Israeli Government is in retaliation for the death of three Israelis in an intentional outrage perpetrated by a Palestinian mental patient last Friday in a colony in East Jerusalem and represents a clear challenge to Washington, which had called on the Israeli Government not to take this measure.
The decision includes the legalization of the settlements of Avigayil, Beit Hogla, Givat Harel, Givat Ha-Roeh, Givat Arnon, Mitzpe Yehuda, Malchai HaShalom, Asa-el, Sde Boaz and Shaharit on the proposal of the leader of the Religious Zionist Party and minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, and the leader of the Jewish Power party –Otzma Yehudit– and Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir.
The Government of the Palestinian Authority has already condemned the initiative approved by the Israeli Government through a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that warns of a “dangerous escalation” in the “aggression” and denounces an “open war against the Palestinian people, Jerusalem and the holy places”.
The West Bank –including East Jerusalem– and the Gaza Strip –from which Israel withdrew in 2005– were militarily occupied by Israel in the 1967 war along with the Golan Heights –in dispute with Syria–.
In total, some 700,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank, some of them in colonies considered legal by Israel and some in settlements considered illegal even by the Israeli government. International Law considers the colonization of militarily occupied territories a war crime.
