London, Paris, Rome, Berlin Demand Israel End West Bank Settlement Expansion

Four European powers have jointly called on Israel to cease its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. France, Italy, Great Britain, and Germany issued a statement Thursday demanding Israel "put an end to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank" and "immediately withdraw" tenders for more than 1,200 housing units. The tenders are for the E1 project, a large-scale development that critics argue would further fragment the West Bank and undermine the viability of a two-state solution. The joint statement highlighted concerns about the timing of the decision, noting the "serious instability" in the West Bank. The European nations pointed to "unprecedented levels of violence committed by settlers against civilians and serious restrictions imposed on the Palestinian economy." They emphasized that such actions are "all the more worrying" given the current climate.