The United Kingdom yesterday condemned Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly the plan to build over 120 new settlement units between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. They said that the planned construction of these units violate international law and called for the suspension of the building plans.
“Israel’s decision to advance the construction of 1,257 settlement buildings in the Givat HaMatos area of the occupied West Bank, would violate international law, and risks causing serious damage to the prospects for a viable Palestinian State,” said James Cleverly, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, in the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
“We condemn this decision, which is incompatible with Israel’s declared goal of peace, and call for both the tender process and the advancement of other settlements in East Jerusalem and elsewhere in the West Bank to be suspended immediately,” he said.