UK Condemns Expansion of Settlements, Calls for Immediate Halt
November 22, 2024
London, UK – The United Kingdom has strongly condemned the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling for an immediate end to this practice.
In a statement delivered at the United Nations Fourth Committee, the UK reiterated its “deep concern” over the ongoing construction and expansion of settlements, which it said “undermines the prospects for a two-state solution and the possibility of a just and lasting peace.”
The UK highlighted that settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a serious obstacle to a negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The government urged Israel to cease all settlement activity immediately and to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Palestinians.
The statement noted that the expansion of settlements had accelerated significantly in recent years, with the number of settlers in the West Bank doubling since 2009. This had led to increased tensions and violence in the occupied territories.
“The continued expansion of settlements is a clear violation of international law and must cease immediately,” said the UK representative. “The UK strongly supports the right of the Palestinian people to live in peace and freedom with secure and recognized borders.”
The UK also expressed concern over the recent Israeli government’s approval of plans to build thousands of new housing units in existing settlements. This move has been widely condemned internationally as a major setback to efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
“The UK calls on the Israeli government to reverse these decisions and to work towards a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the statement concluded.
The UK’s condemnation of settlements is the latest in a series of diplomatic steps taken by the international community to pressure Israel to halt this illegal practice. The European Union, the United States, and the United Nations have all expressed their opposition to settlements and called for their removal.
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