Italy, France, UK, Germany Urge Israel to Halt West Bank Settlement Growth

Italy, France, Britain and Germany on Friday, May 22, urged Israel to stop expanding its settlements in the occupied West Bank. The four countries said the expansion and related administrative measures were undermining stability and prospects for a two-state solution. They also called on Israel to ensure accountability for settler violence and to investigate allegations against Israeli forces.

The countries condemned Israel's E1 settlement plan, which they said would build about 3,400 housing units over 12 square kilometers. They stated that businesses should not bid for construction tenders for E1 or other settlement projects and warned of legal and reputational consequences.

The statement further called on Israel to lift financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian economy. The four countries said they strongly oppose annexation and forcible displacement of the Palestinian population.

The Palestinian Authority described the statement as an important step in the right direction. It called for concrete mechanisms to translate the positions into pressure on Israel. The statement followed the release of video footage showing European activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla being forced to kneel with hands tied while in Israeli custody.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir published the video. Italy and Spain later called on the EU to sanction Ben-Gvir, while Ireland urged the EU to take action against Israel over the treatment of the activists, according to a leaked letter seen by Agence France-Presse.