UK, France, Germany, Canada demand Israel drop plans for 19 new towns in Judea, Samaria

14 countries including Canada, Japan, Germany, Britain, and France, issue joint declaration demanding Israel embrace two-state solution and reverse decision to establish 19 new towns in Judea and Samaria.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Fourteen countries spanning three continents issued a joint statement on Wednesday condemning Israel’s decision to establish 19 new Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, demanding Israel reverse course and embrace the two-state solution.

The declaration was released by the foreign ministries of France, Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain.

“We recall that such unilateral actions, as part of a wider intensification of the settlement policies in the West Bank, not only violate international law but also risk fueling instability,” the declaration reads.

“They risk undermining the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza amid efforts to progress to phase 2 and harming prospects for long term peace and security across the region.

“We recall our clear opposition to any form of annexation and to the expansion of settlement policies, including the approval of the E1 settlement and thousands of new housing units.”

In their statement, the 12 European powers, Japan, and Canada demand Israel cancel the decision to approve the towns and instead back the two-state solution.

“We call on Israel to reverse this decision, as well as the expansion of settlements, in line with UNSC Resolution 2334,” the declaration says.

“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the Two-State solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders. We reaffirm that there is no alternative to a negotiated two-state solution.”

While the vote by Israel’s security cabinet this week formally establishes 19 towns, eight of the communities already exist and are merely being retroactively recognized.

Two of the towns, Ganim and Kadim, were evacuated during the 2005 Disengagement and are slated to be rebuilt.