GENEVA: The European Union on Friday called on Israel to immediately stop its E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank, saying recent advances in settlement expansion threaten peace and regional stability.
In a statement, European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said the publication of the tender deadline for 3,401 housing units under the E1 plan, alongside progress on the so-called “Sovereignty Road,” amounts to “a serious provocation.” The EU also expressed concern over settlement plans in Atarot and Nahalat Shimon in East Jerusalem.
El Anouni said Israel’s settlement policy “represents an obstacle to peace, carries the risk of further instability in the West Bank, displacement of thousands of Palestinians, fragmentation of the West Bank, and encourages further actions by violent settlers.” He added that continued expansion further undermines the viability of a two-state solution, with Jerusalem envisioned as the capital of both states.
“The EU urges the Government of Israel to immediately reverse the expansion of settlements, which are illegal under international law, following months of accelerated approvals of new settlement plans in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” he said. The bloc also called on Israel to respect its obligations under international law and ensure the protection of Palestinians living in the occupied territories.
Separately, Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said he had held a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Friday, alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, highlighting “the importance of diplomacy in de-escalation and the need to preserve regional security and stability.”
