The spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS), and eleven Member States, denounced the Israeli authorities’ announcement on 27 October of the publication of tenders to construct more than 2,860 housing units in 30 settlements, including some in the heart of the West Bank.
Already on 24 October, Israel announced tenders for the construction of more than 1,300 housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (see EUROPE 12819/28).
“We renew our call upon the Government of Israel to reverse these steps which are completely inconsistent with efforts to lower tensions and to ensure calm, to halt settlement construction, and to focus on furthering meaningful re-engagement between the parties, advancing confidence-building measures and improving living conditions for ordinary people, which are urgently needed”, listed the spokesperson in a statement on 29 October.
He recalled that the settlements are “illegal under international law and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between the parties”.
The day before, in a statement, eleven Member States and Norway called on Israel to reverse its announcement, reiterating their “strong opposition to its policy of settlement expansion across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which violates international law and undermines efforts for the two-State solution”.
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Spain and Norway called on both sides to build on the steps taken in recent months to improve cooperation and reduce tensions and implement all the provisions of UN Resolution 2334, “with the aim of rebuilding trust and creating the conditions necessary for promoting peace”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)