EU reiterates its call on Israel to refrain from more expansion of settlements

The European Union has reiterated its call for Israel to cease expanding settlements in the West Bank. A statement from the EU's diplomatic service spokesperson emphasized the need to refrain from "further settlement expansion, the legalization of outposts, land appropriation, demolitions, evictions and other unilateral measures that undermine the viability of the two-state solution."

This EU stance comes shortly after Israel's security cabinet approved a significant plan to establish 34 new settlements. The plan carries a budget of 1.3 billion shekels ($427.8 million) and aims to increase the total number of West Bank settlements under the current Israeli government to 103.

The newly approved settlements are slated for various regions, including nine in Samaria, seven in Binyamin, four in the Hebron area, seven in the Jordan Valley, six in the Gush Etzion area, and one in the Megilot Regional Council. The proposal was put forward by National Missions Minister Orit Strock, Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

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The EU reiterates its call on Israel to refrain from further settlement expansion, the legalization of outposts, land appropriation, demolitions, evictions and other unilateral measures that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.