UK, Australia and Canada want reversal of Israel approval of new West Bank settlement units

Britain, Australia and Canada have called on Israel’s government to reverse a decision to approve new settlement units in the West Bank, saying they are “deeply concerned” by an ongoing cycle of violence.

This week, Israel approved over 5,700 new settlement units in the West Bank and earlier this month instituted changes to the settlement approval process which facilitate swifter approval of construction.

“The continued expansion of settlements is an obstacle to peace and negatively impacts efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution. We call on the Government of Israel to reverse these decisions,” the foreign ministers of Britain, Australia and Canada said in a joint statement.

Violence has been surging in the West Bank, including deadly clashes in Jenin, a fatal shooting by Palestinians near a Jewish settlement, attacks on Palestinian villages by rampaging settlers, and rare use of Israeli air power against militants.

Aforementioned countries echoed United States’ statements

It was also previously reported that the United States was “deeply troubled” by the plans for 5,700 new settler homes, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

Israeli soldiers and settlers at the entrance to the West Bank village of Turmus Aiya, June 21, 2023 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

The foreign ministers echoed the Miller’s statements on the move, as the US official also said that “the US opposes such unilateral actions that make a two-state solution more difficult to achieve and are an obstacle to peace.”

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.

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