EU, OIC urge Israel to drop illegal expansionist constructions in West Bank

The European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have condemned the Israeli regime’s plan to advance the construction of hundreds of more settler units in the occupied West Bank in an apparent attempt to propel such land grab projects shortly before pro-settlement US President Donald Trump leaves office.

“We call on Israel to stop these actions and focus on resuming dialogue rather than building illegal settlements,” the Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission, Peter Stano, said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said, “Our firm position on building of settlements does not change, as they are illegal under international law. They represent obstacles to the peace process and the two-state solution to establish an independent Palestinian state and a barrier to building confidence between the two parties.”

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The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also denounced Israel’s decision to build 800 settler units in the occupied West Bank.

The organization said the move constitutes a flagrant breach of the international law and relevant UN resolutions, most notably Security Council Resolution 2334.

“Israel’s illegal settlement construction and expansion policies in the occupied Palestinian lands neither serve the internationally agreed two-state solution peace process nor the Arab Peace Initiative,” the OIC pointed out.

The so-called Arab Peace Initiative, which was proposed by Saudi Arabia and endorsed by the Arab League in 2002, calls on Israel to agree to a “two-state solution” along the 1967 lines and a “just” solution to the Palestinian refugee issue.

Moreover, Secretary General of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Nayef bin Falah al-Hajraf, said in a statement that the council completely rejected Israeli settlement construction plans in the West Bank and the imposition of its sovereignty over the area.

He called on the international community to press Israeli authorities to reverse their settlement expansion decisions that are contrary to the international law and principles, protect Palestinian people and stop attacks and violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.

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Additionally, the French Foreign Ministry urged Israeli authorities to drop the plan.

“(We) call on the parties to avoid any unilateral measures that could jeopardize the two-state solution founded on international law and agreed parameters,” the ministry said in a statement.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry likewise condemned on Tuesday the Israeli decision, calling it “a new violation of international legitimacy decisions.”

The ministry’s spokesman, Ahmed Hafez, expressed grave concern in a statement over the consequences of such Israeli steps in “undermining the chances of the two-state solution at a time a number of international parties are exerting tireless efforts to revive the negotiations path between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.”

Hafez also said such steps have negative ramifications for the security and stability of the region.

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Furthermore, Turkey on Tuesday expressed concern over Israel’s plan.

“The move is the latest example of the illegitimate practices of Israel that it accelerated before the new administration takes office in the US,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement.

“It is obvious that Israel is trying to prevent the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with geographical integrity and to eliminate the possibility of a two-state solution with these settlement activities,” the ministry said.

It urged the international community to show the “necessary pressure” on Israel to end such acts, which disregard international law, especially the UN resolutions.

More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law as they are built on occupied land.

After Trump took office in December 2016, Israel stepped up its settlement construction activities in defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which pronounce settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds “a flagrant violation under international law.”

But US President-elect Joe Bide has indicated his administration will restore US policy opposing settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories.

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