Twenty-one countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, condemned Israel's plan to build a settlement in the E1 area east of Jerusalem. The planned development covers a 12-square-kilometre tract and would include 3,400 homes for Israeli settlers. The project would sever much of the West Bank from East Jerusalem, link thousands of illegal settlements, and restrict Palestinian access to Jerusalem, undermining East Jerusalem as a potential Palestinian capital. The construction plans were described as a violation of international law, said to threaten security, fuel further violence, and bring no benefits to the Israeli people, with calls for immediate reversal.
The United Kingdom, Australia and Japan are among 21 countries that have condemned Israel's plans to build a controversial illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank, which they say renders a future two-state solution for Palestinians impossible. We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms, the 21 countries said in a joint statement on Thursday, describing Israel's construction plans as a violation of international law.
The development, which will include 3,400 new homes for Israeli settlers, will cut off much of the occupied West Bank from occupied East Jerusalem while also linking up thousands of illegal Israeli settlements in the area. East Jerusalem carries particular significance to Palestinians as the top choice for the capital of a future Palestinian state. The group of 21 nations said any plans for a two-state solution will become impossible by dividing any Palestinian state and restricting Palestinian access to Jerusalem.
The illegal settlement also risks undermining security and fuels further violence and instability, taking us further away from peace, the group said, while bringing no benefits to the Israeli people.
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