EU Concerned Over Extension of Israeli Settlements in Palestine - German Ambassador
UNITED NATIONS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd January, 2019) The European Union is deeply concerned regarding the expansion of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and considers them illegal, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations Christoph Heusgen told the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, the Security Council addressed the situation in the middle East and, particularly, the Palestinian question to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The continuous extension of settlement activity by the state of Israel is a matter of great concern," Heusgen said. "All these settlement activities are illegal under international law, they jeopardize prospects for the future peace agreement on the basis of a two-state solution, they are creating enclaves, they are obstructing Palestinian development and they insight violence on both sides."
The ambassador called on Israel to freeze the installation of the settlements on the Palestinian territory and urged the two countries to remain committed to the two-state solution.
Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Francos Delattre pointed out that humanitarian concerns in the West Bank must be addressed first, beginning with the lifting of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.
"To give hope back immediately to the people in Gaza, we need, first of all, to respond to urgent humanitarian needs," Delattre said. "Ultimately, only lifting a blockade alone with the security guarantees necessary for Israel will meet the needs of the population."
In August, in response to Palestine's ongoing airborne arson attacks, Israel tightened the blockade of the Gaza Strip by introducing a ban on the deliveries of fuel to the territory for an indefinite period of time.
On December 13, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would construct 82 new housing units after two Israel Defense Forces soldiers were killed and two others injured in a shooting attack.
For decades, Israel has been in conflict with the Palestinians, who have been seeking diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which are partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip.