The EU condemned ‘’the new appropriation of land in the West Bank, relating to plans for further settlement expansion’’, announced by the Israeli government on Sunday. It called on the Israeli authorities ‘’to reverse this decision and to engage in good faith towards a lasting peace based on a two-state solution."
On Sunday, Israel announced the appropriation of land in the Gush Etzion (Bloc) of settlements south of Jerusalem.
The announcement followed the cabinet’s decision last week to take over the land in response to the June kidnapping and killing of three teenage Israeli boys by Hamas in the area.
A statement issued by an EU spokesperson said : ‘’Settlements are illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to render the two-State solution impossible.’’
The EU reiterated that ‘’it will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.’’
‘’At this delicate moment, any action that might undermine stability and the prospect of constructive negotiations following the ceasefire in Gaza should be avoided,’’ the statement said.
We call on the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision and to engage in good faith towards a lasting peace based on a two-state solution."
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel stands behind its decision to appropriate the land, adding that "the official policy of the government of Israel is first and foremost to focus on the settlement blocs, which would clearly remain under Israeli sovereignty in any future settlement."
Speaking at a press conference with visiting US Congressmen Ed Royce and Eliot Engel, Lieberman said that "Gush Etzion reflects a wide-ranging consensus in Israeli society, and it's clear to everyone that as part of any settlements Gush Etzion would remain a part of the state of Israel. I think we stand behind that decision."
The same day, another member of the government, Finance Minister Yair Lapid said at a conference in Tel Aviv that the appropriation of land was a move of ‘’underhanded opportunism that wasn't submitted for the cabinet's approval and is damaging to Israel in the international arena.’’
"We are after a military operation, facing a sensitive international front, and it was difficult for us to maintain the world's support as it is," he said. "What was so urgent right now to create another crisis with the Americans and the world?"
The U.S deemed the Israeli announcement "counterproductive" and urged the Israeli government to reverse the decision. The U.K., France and Egypt also condemned the decision.