U.S.authorities denounce proposed construction of numerous homes in the Israeli-controlled West Bank area
German Government Condemns Israeli Settlement Construction in West Bank
The German government has expressed strong disapproval of Israel's plans to construct new settlements in the West Bank, viewing them as a violation of international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The controversy surrounds the E1 settlement and the expansion of Ma'ale Adumim, which, if implemented, would restrict the mobility of the Palestinian population in the West Bank. These proposed actions would divide the West Bank into two halves and cut off East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.
The German Foreign Office made this statement on Thursday evening, joining a chorus of international criticism. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and UN Secretary-General António Guterres have also expressed their disapproval of the Israeli government's settlement construction plans.
Israeli control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip dates back to the 1967 Six-Day War. Since then, Israel has built dozens of settlements in the West Bank, where around 500,000 Israelis live alongside around three million Palestinians.
According to international law, the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories (West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip) is illegal. The international community broadly considers the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be occupied territory under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into the occupied territory.
Israel disputes this characterization, citing historical, security, and legal claims. However, these unilateral claims of sovereignty, such as Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, are not recognized internationally.
The E1 project, a controversial plan for the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, involves the approval of thousands of new housing units in Israeli settlements. The project includes the construction of 3400 new housing units as part of the E1 project.
Right-wing Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presented this plan, which is said to hinder a negotiated two-state solution and an end to Israel's occupation of the West Bank. The settlement construction is viewed as a potential obstacle to a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
The German government's stance is not new. In the past, it has called on the Israeli government to halt settlement construction, aligning itself with the international community's position on the matter. As the situation continues to evolve, it is hoped that all parties involved will work towards a peaceful resolution that respects international law and the rights of all people involved.
References: 1. B'Tselem. (n.d.). Israeli Settlements. https://www.btselem.org/settlements 2. Middle East Eye. (2022). Half a million Israelis living in West Bank settlements, says Palestinian official. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/half-million-israelis-living-west-bank-settlements-says-palestinian-official 3. United Nations. (n.d.). Status of the Palestinian Territories. https://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/825353a1a74f880885256d5a0045260c 4. Al Jazeera. (2021). Israel's West Bank settlements: A brief history. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/1/10/israels-west-bank-settlements-a-brief-history
- The German government, voicing its concerns in line with the international community, has reiterated its community policy against the controversial Israeli settlement construction plans in the West Bank, viewing them as potentially hindering policy-and-legislation efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict and violating vocational training for mutual coexistence in the troubled region, torn apart by the impacts of war-and-conflicts.
- In light of the European Union's firm stance and United Nations' resolutions, the German government, with its call to halt Israeli settlement construction, advocates for vocational training programs that could contribute to a more stable and productive general-news environment in the Middle East, promoting a long-term solution that respects international law and the rights of all people involved.
