By Blessing Chinagorom
The European Union Commission has called Israeli authorities to reverse its decision on the planned so-called legalization of five Israeli settlement outposts, announcement of thousands of new housing units in the occupied West Bank.
The EU High Representative, Josep Borell who made the call in a statement on Saturday condemned the continued policies of dispossession implemented in occupied West Bank by the current Israeli government.
The Commission said the ongoing efforts aiming at establishing facts on the ground and risking to lead to a de-facto annexation must stop.
Adding that Israel’s policy of building settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories constitutes a serious violation of international law, exacerbates tensions, and undermines efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
In line with its longstanding common position and UN Security Council Resolutions, the EU made it clear that it will not recognise changes to the 1967 borders unless agreed by the parties.
As expressed by its Leaders at last week’s European Council, the Commission recalled its support to the Palestinian Authority and stressed that actions weakening the Palestinian Authority must stop. 
While disclosed that the European Union takes note of the latest transfers of parts of the tax and custom clearances to Palestinian Authority and the short-term renewal of the indemnification arrangement that allows the West Bank’s connectivity to Israeli banks
And also to the international financial system, but the Commission insisted that clearances in accordance with the Paris Protocol have to be transferred timely, in full, and without undue deductions to the Palestinian Authority.
The EU reiterated its unwavering commitment to lasting and sustainable peace on the basis of the two-State solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine living side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition.
It was reported that the Israeli government has approved plans to build nearly 5,300 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank, a monitoring group said on Thursday.
Making it the latest move in a campaign to accelerate settlement expansion, aiming to cement Israeli control over the territory and prevent the establishment of a future Palestinian state.
The report said further that word of the decision emerged as an Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had decided to send negotiators to resume Gaza ceasefire talks.
The Israeli anti-settlement monitoring Peace Now said the government’s Higher Planning Council had approved or advanced plans for 5,295 homes in dozens of settlements across the West Bank.
According to the report, COGAT, the Israeli defense body that oversees the planning council, referred questions to Netanyahu’s office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israeli government is dominated by settlers and their supporters.
The hardline nationalist finance minister, Bazalel Smotrich, himself a settler, has been put in charge of settlement policy. On Wednesday, Peace Now said Israel approved the largest seizure of land in the West Bank in over three decades.
The turbocharged settlement drive threatens to further stoke tensions in the West Bank, which has seen a surge in violence since the Gaza war began on Oct. 7.
The Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza – areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war – for an independent state while rankled Israel’s ally, the United States, which speaks out against settlements, but done little to pressure Israel on the issue.
