G7 condemns Israel’s decision to legalize West Bank five outposts

The G7 Foreign Ministers have joined the United Nations and the European Union in condemning the announcement by Finance Minister of Israel, Smotrich that five outposts are to be legalized in the West Bank.

The text of the following statement was released on Thursday by the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and High Representative of the European Union.

This G7 Ministers also rejected the decision by the Government of Israel to declare over 1,270 hectares of land in the West Bank as ‘state lands’.

Adding that this the largest such declaration of state land since the Oslo Accords and the decision to expand existing settlements in occupied West Bank by 5,295 new housing units and to establish three new settlements.
They said, “The Government of Israel’s settlement program is inconsistent with international law, and counterproductive to the cause of peace.

While reaffirmed their commitment to a lasting and sustainable peace in accordance with  relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, on the basis of a two-state solution.
“We have therefore consistently expressed our opposition to expansion of settlements and, as in previous cases, we urge the Govt of Israel to reverse this decision”, the G7 Ministers said.

They emphasized that maintaining economic stability in West Bank is critical for regional security while noted the latest transfers of parts of clearance revenues to Palestinian Authority, but urged Israel to release withheld clearance revenues in accordance with the Paris Protocols.

Also urged to remove or relax measures that exacerbate economic situation in the West Bank, and to take necessary measures to ensure that correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks remain in place with proper controls.