On Tuesday, 21 March, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service condemned the decision taken by the Knesset earlier that day to repeal certain articles of the 2005 Disengagement Law concerning the northern West Bank.
The Israeli parliament voted to rescind a legislative provision banning Israelis from going to an area of the northern West Bank, from which Jewish residents had been evacuated in 2005, by passing an amendment authorising them to return to the evacuated area.
“Today’s decision [...] is counter-productive to de-escalation efforts and hampers the possibility to pursue confidence-building measures and create a political horizon for dialogue”, decried the spokesperson in a statement, considering the decision to be a “clear step back” from a two-state solution.
By way of reminder, he stated that Israel had reaffirmed its commitment to efforts to reduce tensions very recently—with the Aqaba Joint Communiqué (26 February) and the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Communiqué (19 March). On 20 March, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell had welcomed the outcome of the meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
“The meeting brought an understanding on ways to further de-escalate tensions on the ground and work towards a peaceful settlement between Israelis and Palestinians, while recognising the need to create a political horizon”, emphasised Mr Borrell in a statement. In particular, he highlighted commitments made to stop unilateral measures, to respect existing agreements, and to establish a mechanism to reduce violence and incitement to violence; efforts to improve the Palestinian economy; and the commitment to respect the status quo of holy sites.
Mr Borrell announced that the EU was prepared to contribute to efforts to implement in good faith the communiqué that the parties had agreed upon. He also welcomed the commitment that was made to resume talks in April.
See the Sharm el-Sheikh communiqué: https://aeur.eu/f/5x2
Earlier in the day, the High Representative had condemned the remarks Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich had made the previous day denying the existence of the Palestinian nation and history. He called the comment “unacceptable” and said it could not be tolerated, calling on the Israeli government to disavow the comment. “It is wrong, it is disrespectful, it is dangerous, [and] it is counterproductive to say [these] kind of things in a situation [that] is already tense”, added Mr Borrell. He insisted, “Could you imagine if a Palestinian leader [had] said, ‘The State of Israel does not exist?’ What would have been the reaction?” (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)