Britain condemned Israel's move on Sunday to build hundreds of new homes on Palestinian land and said it could damage future peace efforts.
More than 90 per cent of the nearly 800 homes will lie inside the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, with more than 200 in unauthorised areas that the Israeli government has decided to legalise in an act condemned by Palestine.
“The UK is seriously concerned by the government of Israel’s decision to approve the construction of 780 new settlement units across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including areas deep within the West Bank which could threaten future peace negotiations,” a representative for the Foreign Office said.
“Settlements are illegal under international law and risk undermining the physical viability of the two-state solution. We call for the construction of these in East Jerusalem and elsewhere in the West Bank to cease immediately.”
The European Union said the Israeli decision was “contrary to international law and further undermines the prospects of a viable two-state solution”.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the decision on Sunday marked a “pre-emptive attempt by the Israeli government to undermine any effort that the US president-elect Joe Biden’s administration might make to relaunch the stalled peace process.”
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An Israeli activist holds a banner during a protest against the US peace plan for the Middle East, in front of the US ambassador's residence in Jerusalem, on May 15, 2020, as Palestinians commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the 1948 Nakba. which left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war accompanying the birth of Israel. AFP -
Israeli activists hold placards as they protest against the US peace plan for the Middle East in front of the US ambassador's residence in Jerusalem, on May 15, 2020. AFP -
Palestinian medics run away from teargas used by Israeli troops during a protest marking the 72nd anniversary of Nakba and against Israeli plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, in the village of Sawiya near Nablus May 15, 2020. Reuters -
Israeli troops stand guard as Palestinians marking the 72nd anniversary of Nakba and protest against Israeli plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, in the village of Sawiya near Nablus May 15, 2020. Reuters -
Palestinians argue with Israeli troops during a protest marking the 72nd anniversary of Nakba and against Israeli plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, in the village of Sawiya near Nablus May 15, 2020. Reuters -
Palestinians pray during a protest marking the 72nd anniversary of Nakba and against an Israeli plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, in the village of Sawiya near Nablus on May 15, 2020. Reuters -
A Palestinian man argues with an Israeli border policewoman during a protest marking the 72nd anniversary of Nakba and against Israeli plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, in the village of Sawiya near Nablus on May 15, 2020. Reuters
According to monitoring group Peace Now, Israel approved or pushed forward the construction of 12,000 settlement homes in 2020 – the most since the recording of statistics began in 2012.
Israel has stepped up its building of settlements in the West Bank during the four-year administration of departing US President Donald Trump, who has built strong ties with the Israeli government.
