“We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding the illegal Israeli presence in the West Bank,” reads the statement signed by 85 countries and a number of international organizations, reports HINA.
“Such decisions are contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law and must be canceled immediately. In this sense, we emphasize our strong opposition to any form of annexation”. Among the signatories are Germany, France, China and Russia. The United States is not.
According to media reports, the Israeli government has approved a highly controversial proposal that would make it easier for Israeli settlers to buy land in the West Bank. The move could have far-reaching consequences for the Palestinian population in the West Bank.
A joint statement from the eight Muslim-majority countries, released earlier on Tuesday, said the decision was the first since 1967 to approve procedures to register and settle land ownership in large parts of the occupied West Bank. All eight countries were among the signatories of the recent statement.
Israel’s foreign ministry characterized the statement by the eight Muslim-majority countries as “factually unfounded and deliberately misleading”.
Israel only approved an “administrative measure in the area of civil and property law” this week, the ministry said. Israeli media also reported that Jerusalem will expand further into the West Bank for the first time in almost 60 years through a new settlement project.
(Vijesti.ba)
