The EU says Israeli plans to annex Palestinian territory is illegal — amid government proposals to carve out a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank.
“The EU rejects any territorial change that is not part of a political agreement between involved parties, so annexation of territory is illegal under international law,” a European Commission spokesperson told reporters in Brussels on Thursday (14 August).
The Israel proposal comes with promises by Israeli far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich to “bury the idea of a Palestinian state”.
Smotrich said the latest settlement, deemed illegal under international law, would cut off the West Bank from occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is Zionism at its best — building, settling and strengthening our sovereignty in the Land of Israel,” he said.
Smotrich, who also oversees settlement affairs, said the so-called E1 project would see the construction of 3,401 housing units.
Critics describe the move as another exploitative land grab at time when Gaza is facing starvation and total destruction from Israeli military operations.
According to the World Food Programme, one of only eight organisations is able to send humanitarian aid to Gaza through the UN-coordinated manifest.
“The E1 plan is deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution. We are standing at the edge of an abyss, and the government is driving us forward at full speed,” said Peace Now, an Israel NGO, in a statement.
The NGO says the government’s annexation moves is guarantee for many more years of bloodshed.
But they also noted that any final approval still needs to go through Israel’s Higher Planning Council scheduled for 20 August.
This would then be followed by a possibly lengthy publication of the approval notice, tenders for construction, and building permits.
“If the process moves quickly, infrastructure work in E1 could begin within a few months, and housing construction within about a year,” it said.
More than three million people live in the West Bank, of which around 85 percent are Palestinians.
The West Bank currently has 141 official settlements established by the government, as well as 224 outposts considered illegal under Israeli law.
Source: euobserver
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