Paris today condemned Israeli settler violence and the construction of thousands of new settler units in the occupied West Bank. France ‘condemns settler violence against ]Palestinian[ civilians and their property. This violence is unacceptable and must stop,’ stated Anne-Claire Legendre, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release. France called on the Israeli occupation authorities to ‘bring its perpetrators to justice, as they must be held accountable for their actions by the appropriate judicial authorities.’ Israeli colonial settlements ‘are illegal under international law. They fuel tensions on the ground and are a major obstacle to peace,’ she added. Condemning the approval by the occupation authorities of the construction of 5,623 new colonial settler units in the occupied West Bank, Legendre stated: ‘By approving new construction projects in the Occupied Territories, the Israeli government is undermining the possibility of establishing a future viable and contiguous Palestinian state and is jeopardizing the viability of the two-state solution, which remains the only guarantee of a lasting peace and has the support of the international community.’ France called on the Israeli government to ‘revoke its decision to accelerate the process for authorizing the construction of ]units[ in the ]colonial[ settlements and to renounce its intention to approve plans to build nearly 5,000 new housing units in several West Bank settlements.’

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA