UK, France, Germany condemn Israeli approval of new illegal settlement

[Tennis]

The UK, France, and Germany on Friday condemned Israel's approval to build the first officially sanctioned new settlement in the West Bank in more than 20 years, after the White House warned that "unrestrained settlement activity does not help advance peace."

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the new settlement building threatens "to further undermine prospects for a viable two-state solution, which remains the only realistic way to fulfil the aspirations of both sides and achieve just and lasting peace."

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in a statement: “As a strong friend of Israel, and one prepared to stand up for Israel when it faces bias and unreasonable criticism, I urge Israel not to take steps such as these, which move us away from our shared goal of peace and security and make it harder to achieve a different relationship between Israel and the Arab world."

The French Foreign Ministry said Israel’s announcements were “extremely worrying,” stressing that Paris “firmly condemns these decisions that threaten peace and risk exacerbating tensions on the ground.”

A German government spokesperson cited by Haaretz said that “the federal government expects the Israeli government to clarify which solution they are pursuing for a lasting peace with the Palestinians. Germany will not recognize any change in the 1967 lines, which has not been agreed between the parties.”

US President Donald Trump's administration refrained from criticizing the new settlement, which was approved by the Israeli security cabinet late Thursday, but warned that further expansion could undermine peace efforts.

"While the existence of settlements is not in itself an impediment to peace, further unrestrained settlement activity does not help advance peace," a White House official said.

"Going forward... the Israeli government has made clear that Israel's intent is to adopt a policy regarding settlement activity that takes President Trump's concerns into consideration."

Earlier Friday, a spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed "disappointment and alarm" at the Israeli announcement.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit also condemned the decision, saying on Friday that the move “clearly showed that Israel isn’t a true partner for achieving peace, and is captive in the hands of radical settlers.”
- 'Destroying peace prospects' -

The Palestinians reacted angrily at what is widely seen as the most right-wing government in Israeli history presses ahead with settlement expansion in defiance of international concern.

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said Israel "continues to destroy the prospects of peace."

He also criticised the United Nations, European Union and United States for not doing enough to punish Israel for continuing to expand settlements in the West Bank.

"Peace is not going to be achieved by tolerating such crimes," he said.

More than 400,000 Israelis live in existing settlements considered illegal under international law.

The new settlement will be constructed north of the former wildcat Jewish outpost known as Amona, which was razed in February in accordance with an Israeli High Court order.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised to build a new settlement for its residents after their eviction.

"I promised to create a new community and we are going to respect that commitment and create it today," he said ahead of Thursday's security cabinet meeting.

Oded Revivi, chief foreign envoy for the umbrella body representing settlers, welcomed the decision.

"We will be monitoring the government very closely to see that these plans come to fruition, enabling a new era of building," he said in a statement.

Agriculture minister Uri Ariel also welcomed the announcement, saying it would allow the "development of Judaea and Samaria," using a term right-wing Israelis apply to the West Bank.

It will be the first entirely new settlement that an Israeli government has approved since 1991, the anti-settlement NGO Peace Now said.

In recent years, construction had focused instead on expanding existing settlements.

Peace Now said the new settlement's location deep in the West Bank was "strategic for the fragmentation of the West Bank," which Palestinians see as the bulk of their future state.

"Netanyahu is held captive by the settlers, and chooses his political survival over the interest of the state of Israel," the NGO said, adding it was pushing Israelis and Palestinians closer to "apartheid."

The international community regards all Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal and a major obstacle to Middle East peace.

Israel draws a distinction between those it sanctions and those it does not -- so-called outposts.

The cabinet also invited tenders for nearly 2,000 new homes in existing settlements and discussed retroactively legalising three outposts, Peace Now said.

Ronen Bergman, senior correspondent for Israel's Yediot Aharonot newspaper, said Netanyahu, who has faced corruption allegations, has been dragged further right to keep his government together.

The far-right pro-settlement Jewish Home party, part of Netanyahu's coalition, is often dictating the government's agenda, he added.

"He has been shifted more and more to the right since being re-elected.

"(Netanyahu) is not calling the agenda, he is chasing the agenda," Bergman told AFP.

The former US administration of Barack Obama was deeply opposed to Israel's expansion of the settlements and in December withheld its veto from a UN Security Council resolution condemning the policy.

https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israe...new-settlement

Wow. Another major settlement. In the middle of the West Bank too. It really is clear Israel doesn't want peace. Enough condemnation. It's time for major sanctions.

If someone supports peace and justice, I don't know how they can support Israel given its blatant disregard for human rights and international law.

[Deleted]

It's time for major sanctions.

LOL good luck with that. Israel could destroy the US economy from the inside if they felt the need arises.

[Torto]

They should just let Israel take the lot. They are terraforming the desert into habitable, prosperous land. The Palestinians would just use it to either raise a few goats or to launch more missiles.

[Majestic12]

Sanctions from who? Israel owns the United States politically. Presidential candidates have to make special speeches for the lobby of a foreign nation. With Trump's new "America first" budget, only Israel was exempt from recieving less funds.

Israel doesn't give a damn about the UN, who were the ones to recognize them as a nation.

Israel is motivated by religion, that they are "God's chosen people" and that it is their land by right. They're not going to stop, and no one is going to stop them. If anyone criticises Israel you are labeled anti-semite and any UN stuff is vetoed by the U.S.

Welcome to reality. Israel is run by religious extremists.

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They should just let Israel take the lot. They are terraforming the desert into habitable, prosperous land. The Palestinians would just use it to either raise a few goats or to launch more missiles.

Typical Israeli misinformation. Do you even know what a missile is? Do you even know the difference between a missile and a rocket? Palestinians have rockets with the blast radius of a soccer ball, Israelis have laser-guided missiles that level entire blocks.

Thanks for showing us how misinformed you are, though. You've discredited yourself. You have absolutely zero clue about anything. Just another mindless Israeli supporter.

[Tennis]

They should just let Israel take the lot. They are terraforming the desert into habitable, prosperous land. The Palestinians would just use it to either raise a few goats or to launch more missiles.

Human rights? Do you support them? Because what you suggested means is against that. Not to mention against international law.

[Torto]

Sanctions from who? Israel owns the United States politically. Presidential candidates have to make special speeches for the lobby of a foreign nation. With Trump's new "America first" budget, only Israel was exempt from recieving less funds.

Israel doesn't give a damn about the UN, who were the ones to recognize them as a nation.

Israel is motivated by religion, that they are "God's chosen people" and that it is their land by right. They're not going to stop, and no one is going to stop them. If anyone criticises Israel you are labeled anti-semite and any UN stuff is vetoed by the U.S.

Welcome to reality. Israel is run by religious extremists.

- - - Updated - - -



Typical Israeli misinformation. Do you even know what a missile is? Do you even know the difference between a missile and a rocket? Palestinians have rockets with the blast radius of a soccer ball, Israelis have laser-guided missiles that level entire blocks.

Thanks for showing us how misinformed you are, though. You've discredited yourself. You have absolutely zero clue about anything. Just another mindless Israeli supporter.

Wow....just wow.

You happily label Israel religious extremists while all the Islamic Arab nations get a free pass. So much so that even the slightest hint of Islamic/Muslim criticism gets you an infraction on this forum yet Israel bashing is perfectly acceptable. Israel gets constant UN censure yet no one looks at Saudi Arabia. The left are such hypocrites on this issue (along with everything else).

And then you want to castigate me over the difference between missiles and rockets. What, are we supposed to thank the Palestinians for using rockets instead of missiles? Seriously?? Israel is showing monumental restraint. What if Cuba was constantly lobbing 'rockets' into the US? Cuba would have been bombed into a parking lot a long time ago.

[Dr Assbandit]

Once again nothing good will come out of this and it will be innocent everyday Israeli and Palestinian citizens who bear the brunt of government politics.

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Israel is showing monumental restraint. What if Cuba was constantly lobbing 'rockets' into the US? Cuba would have been bombed into a parking lot a long time ago.

Kind of defeats the purpose of showing restraint when your next action undermines any progress made from the former .

[Torto]

Human rights? Do you support them? Because what you suggested means is against that. Not to mention against international law.

Human rights and international law are whatever the UN wants it to be. And the UN has been corrupted and twisted into the impotent, bureaucratic behemoth it is now. Human rights are supposed to mean that all humans are equal, but as with all socialist bodies, some humans are more equal than others.

[Thoughtful Trolli]

LOL good luck with that. Israel could destroy the US economy from the inside if they felt the need arises.

Oh no, what the fuck are they gonna do,

force me to eat one poptart and drink water instead of letting me eat two poptarts, a can of ravioli and mountain dew?

[stevenho]

Israel survived half a century and two wars surrounded by arabs hell-bent on destroying the state.
They know very well that being strong and ruthless is infinitely more effective than being friendly and peace loving.
Its a grown up world, no place for hippies in it. Rule or be ruled.

[Tennis]

I don't see how occupying another country, killing indiscriminately and stealing land has anything to do with being in a grown up world.


It's clear Israel doesn't want peace. If it did, it wouldn't be doing this.

[Torto]

I don't see how occupying another country, killing indiscriminately and stealing land has anything to do with being in a grown up world.


It's clear Israel doesn't want peace. If it did, it wouldn't be doing this.

According to Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics....lol

[Sky High]

I wouldn't care if the two sides involved killed each other for eternity, if not for the fact the US pays for this shit to continue.

[Deleted]

Water grabs and settlement building will be the slow death of the Palestinians. The two state solution is dead and buried and has been for some time. The disparity in diplomatic and military power means Israel has no need to compromise, and the Palestinian Authority leadership who are decrepid and authoratarian have no alternative or leverage but to keep peddling the dead deal because of thier dependence on Israeli secuirty.

Its pathetic.

[May90]

So, when is your country stopping building illegal settlements on the land of American natives, Tennisace?

[Chinese Bootlickers]

Israel survived half a century and two wars surrounded by arabs hell-bent on destroying the state.
They know very well that being strong and ruthless is infinitely more effective than being friendly and peace loving.
Its a grown up world, no place for hippies in it. Rule or be ruled.

In the shadow of the biggest kid on the block. Take the US out of the equation and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be long before the nukes started flying.

[Deleted]

it is always the jews and muslims when it comes to bad news.

why can't they happily live like normal people and contribute something to the human species

infracted - forbidden topics

[stevenho]

I don't see how occupying another country, killing indiscriminately and stealing land has anything to do with being in a grown up world.

You're not very well versed in history then.
Violence and doctrine of strength was a prevalent mean of resolving and preventing conflicts since the neanderthals first went at it.
After people grow up (in a metaphorical sense) they realize that being the absolute worst guy to fuck with is the best recipe for peace, and nothing else has ever came close to it since the birth of mankind.
Before then, they usually preach world peace and similar nonsense that has not worked for the last 10,000 years.

[Deleted]

So, when is your country stopping building illegal settlements on the land of American natives, Tennisace?

What a ridiculous comeback. You probably thought it sounded smart.

[Techno-Druid]

I think we have to accept that the West Bank will ultimately be Manifest Destiny'd by Israel (unless something major happens).

The future of a Palestinian state is within the Gaza Strip and with Hamas showing they care little about the people living there and more about fighting Israel, the future of the Palestinian people seems pretty bleak...