By Manal Abdel Fattah
The European Union strongly condemned the announcement by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the confiscation of more than 800 hectares of occupied Palestinian land.
The European Union said, in a press statement distributed to journalists, that this is the largest confiscation since the Oslo Accords, as the settlements constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
At the European Council that was held, European Union leaders condemned the Israeli government’s decisions to continue expanding illegal settlements throughout the occupied West Bank, calling on Tel Aviv to reverse these decisions.
In line with its long-standing common position and UN Security Council resolutions, the European Union will not recognize changes to the 1967 borders unless both parties agree.
This position goes hand in hand with the European Union’s commitment to Israel’s security and ensuring that the horrific attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7 are not repeated.
The European Union added in its statement that it is determined to combat this terrorism in word and deed, stressing that settlement expansion contradicts this goal, as it fuels tensions and undermines the prospects of reaching a two-state solution, which remains the only sustainable guarantee for long-term security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
