Britain and Partners Condemn Israel's Housing Approval in Occupied West Bank

On Thursday, the British government, joined by 22 allied nations, denounced Israel’s Higher Planning Committee’s approval for the construction of more than 3,400 housing units in the E1 region of the occupied West Bank. The foreign ministers issued a joint statement declaring the decision as unacceptable and a breach of international law, urging for its immediate reversal while emphasizing that such actions do not benefit the Israeli population.

The joint statement warned that this move could lead to increased violence and instability, diverting attention further away from the possibility of achieving peace. It indicated that unilateral decisions taken by the Israeli government conflict with the shared objectives of security and prosperity for the Middle East and called for the cessation of settlement construction in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. Additionally, the statement demanded the removal of financial restrictions imposed on the Palestinian Authority.

The criticism came after Israel authorized the construction of 3,753 housing units, with 3,401 pending final approval in the E1 neighborhood of Ma'ale Adumim, a project intended to connect settlements and create a barrier between the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In response to these developments, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office summoned Israel's ambassador for discussions regarding the controversial approval.