Berlin has called on the Israeli government to immediately cease all settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. The demand comes as the United Nations reports that settlement expansion has reached its highest level since 2017, exacerbating tensions and undermining the prospect of a two-state solution.
In a strongly worded statement, the German Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s recent decision to approve the construction of over 750 new settlement units in the West Bank. “We categorically reject Israel’s decision to build more than 750 new settlement units in the West Bank,” the statement read, emphasizing that such activity violates international law, contravenes UN Security Council resolutions, and jeopardizes the viability of a negotiated two-state solution.
The German government reiterated its unwavering opposition to any formal or de facto annexation of Palestinian territory. Furthermore, Germany affirmed that it will not recognize any alterations to the borders as they existed on June 4, 1967, unless agreed upon by both parties through direct negotiations. This position underscores Germany’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on international law and established parameters.
The UN report highlighting the surge in settlement activity paints a grim picture of the situation on the ground. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a document submitted to the Security Council, condemned the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. He warned that this expansion continues to fuel tensions, restricts Palestinian access to their land, and undermines the possibility of a sovereign, independent, democratic, contiguous, and fully sovereign Palestinian state.
Adding to the concerns, the UN announced that over 1,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the beginning of the year in Area C of the West Bank, which constitutes approximately 60% of the territory. According to Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, most of these displacements resulted from the demolition of Palestinian homes under the pretext of lacking Israeli-issued building permits – permits which Palestinians find virtually impossible to obtain. This level of displacement represents the second-highest annual rate recorded since 2009.
