West Bank & Jerusalem
UN slams Israel’s expansion of illegal settlements in occupied West Bank
Photo via Al Jazeera English
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Israeli plans to accelerate settlement development in the occupied West Bank, calling the settlements a "flagrant violation" of international law with "no legal validity." His statement, released Monday, follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement Friday that his government would accelerate the legalization of farm outposts and establishment of new settlements in the territory.
Guterres said the settlements constitute a major obstacle to achieving a two-state solution and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. His criticism comes amid escalating violence in the West Bank, where at least eight Palestinians, including a child, and two Israelis have been killed since Thursday. International legal precedent, including a 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, has determined all Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law.
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