France deplores Israeli plans to expand illegal settlements in occupied West Bank

French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the Tel Aviv regime’s insistence on illegal settlement construction and land expropriation policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, asserting that Paris supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

During a telephone conversation with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas, Macron expressed his concern in the face of the growing tensions and worsening situation in the occupied lands.

He condemned the Israeli regime’s settlement expansion policy and reiterated that France is committed to respecting the legitimate rights of Palestinians. 

Macron went on to claim that France is prepared to help contain any escalation in the occupied Palestinian lands and foster the resumption of the so-called peace process in order to secure fair and lasting peace in the region.

He underlined the sanctity of holy sites in the Old City of al-Quds, as well as the need to maintain regional stability and security.

The French president also offered his condolences to Abbas and the Palestinian nation for the killing of veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead by Israeli forces on May 11 near the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli lawmaker warns of ‘religious war’ after court allows settlers to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque

A senior Israeli lawmaker warns that a recent court ruling allowing settlers to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque risked "religious war."

Macron stated that France attaches importance to efforts to shed light on the circumstances surrounding her death. 

Late last month, the European Union deplored the Israeli regime’s plans for the construction of nearly 4,500 new illegal settler units in West Bank, calling on Tel Aviv to reverse the decision.

The remarks were delivered by Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations on behalf of current and former European Union Members of the Security Council, France, Ireland, and Estonia, joined by Albania, at a UN Security Council session in New York on May 26.

The joint statement stressed that the illegal settler units “would constitute an additional obstacle to the [so-called] two-state solution,” and “are in clear violation of international law and stand in the way of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace” between the two sides.

The statement further said the decision, in addition to the retroactive approval of three illegal outposts and demolitions and evictions that affect the Palestinian populations in East al-Quds and Area C, directly threatens the possibility of a future Palestinian state.

Intensified Israeli aggression in al-Quds prompts call for action, probe

Iran’s ambassador to the UN has denounced deadly raids by Israeli forces against Palestinians in and around the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds, urging immediate action to halt the aggression.

Between 600,000 and 750,000 Israelis occupy over 250 illegal settlements built since the 1967 occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state, with East al-Quds as its capital. 

The last round of Israeli-Palestinian talks collapsed in 2014, with Israel’s continued settlement expansion emerging as a key sticking point.

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

The UN Security Council has time and again condemned the occupying regime’s diabolic settler-colonialism project in its umpteen resolutions.

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