Germany warns Israel over West Bank settlement expansion
“The German government's position is very clear: settlement construction violates international law. We reject it outright. It also jeopardizes the German government's goal of a negotiated two-state solution and perpetuates the Israeli occupation of the West Bank instead of ending it, as demanded by the ICJ (International Court of Justice),” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer in Berlin.
Her statement followed Israel’s Cabinet approval of 19 new settlements, raising the total added over recent years to 69, according to far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“The federal (German) government consistently calls on the Israeli government to completely halt settlement construction. For us, it is important that there is a possibility of achieving a two-state solution. This is in the interests of security for the entire region, both for Israel and for the possibility of a future Palestinian state,” Deschauer added.
Since October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have reportedly killed over 1,100 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, injured nearly 11,000, and detained around 21,000. The International Court of Justice’s July ruling declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the removal of all settlements. Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967.
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