8 Arab States, 100 Ex-Diplomats Urge Action Over Israel's 1,200-Home E1 Plan
Updated
Updated · Madhyamam · Aug 22
8 Arab States, 100 Ex-Diplomats Urge Action Over Israel's 1,200-Home E1 Plan
3 articles · Updated · Madhyamam · Aug 22
Summary
Eight Arab states joined Spain and more than 100 former French and British diplomats in demanding urgent action after Israel issued tenders for more than 1,200 settlement homes in the E1 area of the West Bank.
The coordinated Arab statement said building east of occupied East Jerusalem would violate international law, accelerate annexation and sever territorial continuity between the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The former diplomats urged London and Paris to go beyond recognizing Palestine, calling for arms and trade suspensions, limits on settlement-linked property purchases and penalties for companies financing or building settlements.
Spain strongly condemned the tenders, while Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway had already warned the project would further damage prospects for peace and a two-state solution.
Israel rejected the criticism, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar defending Jewish settlement across what he called Israel and saying the country would not remain passive.