The UK, Australia, and Canada have expressed deep concern at the approval of new settlement units in Judea and Samaria and the ongoing cycle of violence
The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, and the UK are deeply concerned by recent events in Judea and Samaria, Israel, which further reduce the prospects for peace.
We are gravely concerned by the Government of Israel’s approval on June 26 of over 5,700 new settlement units in Judea and Samaria. We are also concerned by the changes to the settlement approval process instituted by the Government of Israel on June 18, which facilitate swifter approval of construction in settlements.
The continued expansion of settlements is an obstacle to peace and negatively impacts efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution. We call on the Government of Israel to reverse these decisions.
We are also deeply troubled by the continued violence and loss of life in Israel. We unequivocally condemn all forms of terrorism and violence against civilians, including the terrorist attack on June 20 in Eli targeting Israeli civilians. We also condemn the reprehensible and ongoing settler violence targeting Arabs. We welcome the joint statement from the heads of the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency, and the Israel Police as well as statements by other Israeli leaders condemning these acts. We call on authorities to ensure accountability for all perpetrators of violence.
The cycle of violence in Israel must be broken.
Australia, Canada, and the UK stand firmly with the Israeli and Arab people in their right to live in peace and security, with dignity, without fear, and with their human rights fully respected. We continue to support a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the creation of another Arab state living side by side in peace and security with Israel. This vision can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties.
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Editor's Note: The territory referred to as the "West Bank" has not been called by that name since 10 June 1967 when the Jewish people led by the IDF prevailed in a war against the Arab invaders and forced them back into Jordan, etc. The territory is called Judea and Samaria, Israel and the above press release has been corrected to reflect the accuracy that a government should apply. If the government officials responsible for this press release were independent observers of what is happening, they would not apply the narrative and agenda of the Arab terrorists who are killing Israeli citizens.