Israel superior final yr the very best variety of settlements within the occupied West Bank because the Oslo Accords of the Nineties, the European Union’s consultant workplace within the Palestinian territories mentioned on Friday.
Plans for 12,349 housing items moved in direction of approval within the West Bank, the EU workplace mentioned, warning of the influence on a possible two-state answer for the Israeli-Palestinian battle.
Another 18,333 items moved ahead within the planning course of in annexed east Jerusalem, the EU workplace mentioned.
The complete — 30,682 items in each the West Bank and east Jerusalem — is the very best since 2012, it added.
The report comes at a time of heightened tensions within the West Bank and east Jerusalem over the Israel-Hamas warfare within the Gaza Strip, which has been raging since October 7.
“The EU has repeatedly called on Israel not to proceed with plans under its settlement policy and to halt all settlement activities,” the EU workplace mentioned.
“It stays the EU’s agency place that settlements are unlawful beneath worldwide regulation.
“Israel’s decision to advance plans for the approval and construction of new settlement units in 2023 further undermines the prospects of a viable two-state solution.”
All of Israel’s settlements within the West Bank, occupied since 1967, are thought-about unlawful beneath worldwide regulation, no matter whether or not they have Israeli planning permission.
Dozens of unauthorised settlements have sprung up within the territories — starting from a couple of tents grouped collectively to prefabricated huts which have been linked to public electrical energy and water provides.
Excluding east Jerusalem, some 490,000 Israeli settlers now dwell within the West Bank alongside some three million Palestinians. Far-right events in Israel’s governing coalition have pressed for an acceleration of settlement growth.
Since the beginning of the Gaza warfare, violence between Palestinians and Israeli troops and settlers has intensified.
At least 594 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers within the West Bank since October 7, in line with an AFP tally based mostly on Palestinian well being ministry figures.
At least 17 Israelis, together with troopers, have been killed by Palestinian assaults within the West Bank over the identical interval, in line with official Israeli figures.
The landmark Oslo Accords codified mutual recognition of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, in addition to interim Palestinian self-government.
Last yr Norwegian peace employee Jan Egeland, one of many deal’s architects, informed AFP that he now thought-about the accords useless.
Source: www.anews.com.tr