Palestine has welcomes European Union Report on Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank

Islamabad: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine has welcomed the report published by The European Union on 20 July 2022 regarding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem January – December 2021.

Land theft is an Israeli national project undertaken by every branch of Israel’s government and facilitated by Israeli officials. This project aims to cleanse the land of its rightful owners, and to displace the Palestinian people, and replace them with illegal Israeli settlers.

Despite the continuous statements and condemnations from the EU and world countries, the report clearly states the advancement of settlements units in the year 2021 compared to the previous year.

The State of Palestine confirms more shocking figures of land theft and settlement construction plans in 2022.

The continuous policies of Israeli governments provide ample evidence of Israel’s defiance of international law and its intentional aim to undermine the Two-State solution. This state of chronic impunity and systemic violence is a direct consequence of the international community’s willful failure to hold Israel accountable for its crimes and to enforce international law and relevant resolutions, which has undermined the rules-based international order. It is indisputable that exceptionalism and double standards will imbue chaos and destruction for all.

Accountability for crimes in Palestine is not and cannot be optional, we therefore call on the European Union to immediately suspend its regrettable decision to resume the Association Council meetings with Israel. Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and violations of international law should not be met with closer ties and thriving relations.

The State of Palestine reiterates that there is no such thing as authorized settlements. All settlements are illegal under international law. Israel, the occupying Power, must dismantle all its settlements and return the lands to its rightful Palestinian owners. Israel’s illegal colonial occupation and settlement enterprise continue to threaten regional and international peace and security.