The Spanish Government has "strongly" censured the new construction project of a settlement promoted by Israel in the West Bank and has reminded the Executive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that settlements "are contrary to International Law," demanding that he annul the measure.
Through a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Executive has condemned "strongly the decision of the Government of Israel to publish the tender to build more than 1,200 settlement homes in the E1 area, which breaks the territorial continuity of Palestine and separates East Jerusalem from the West Bank."
In the note, the Government has reiterated that "all Israeli settlements in occupied territory are contrary to international law, hinder the implementation of the two-State solution, and constitute an obstacle to peace."
Therefore, the Spanish Executive has urged the Israeli authorities to "reverse this decision that violates International Law and to comply with their international obligations," while also calling on the international community to "assume its responsibilities to advance in the implementation of the two-State solution, the only one that will allow progress towards a just and lasting peace in the region," according to Spain.
With this stance, the Government aligns itself with the criticisms expressed in recent days by other countries, including the joint statement issued this Thursday by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, and Norway, in which they describe Netanyahu's latest project as "unacceptable" and emphasize that Israeli settlements in the West Bank "are illegal."