London [UK], July 2: In a united front, the governments of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have voiced their deep concerns regarding recent developments in the occupied West Bank.
Israel's decision to expand its illegal settlements amidst escalating violence has raised alarm bells, with the three countries asserting that these actions further diminish the prospects for peace.
In a joint statement released on Saturday, the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom emphasized that the continued expansion of settlements acts as a significant obstacle to achieving peace and has a detrimental impact on efforts to establish a negotiated two-state solution. They called upon the Israeli government to reverse these decisions promptly.
On June 26, Israel's defence ministry planning committee, responsible for overseeing settlement construction, greenlit the construction of over 5,000 new settlement homes. It is worth noting that settlements are deemed illegal under international law.
The foreign ministers' statement also expressed apprehension about the alterations made to the settlement approval process on June 18.The changes granted far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich extensive powers to expedite construction, bypassing long-standing measures that have been in place for the past 27 years.
This expansion of settlements coincides with a surge in violence in the region. On June 19, Israeli forces made a rare deployment of helicopter gunships as they stormed the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths of seven Palestinians and the injury of 91 others. Subsequently, Palestinian gunmen retaliated against Israelis, while Israeli settlers unleashed a series of attacks on Palestinian villages.
The Israel-occupied West Bank has experienced a recent escalation of violence, including deadly clashes in Jenin, a fatal shooting near an illegal Jewish settlement, assaults on Palestinian villages by marauding settlers, and even the rare deployment of Israeli air power against Palestinian fighters.
The recent announcement of illegal expansion has drawn widespread criticism from numerous countries and international organizations, including the United Nations. Spain, for instance, rejected the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories on Friday. The Spanish government condemned the violence committed by armed settlers, deeming Tel Aviv's decision contrary to international law and a hindrance to peace.
In their condemnation of the violence targeting both Israelis and Palestinians, the Australian, Canadian, and British governments also welcomed the joint statement made by Israeli security chiefs, equating the Israeli settler attacks to "nationalist terrorism."
Currently, approximately 750,000 Israelis reside in 250 illegal settlements located in the occupied West Bank. These settlements were established on land captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.Continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank hampers peace efforts, they say
Source: Qatar Tribune