Chicago – December 24, 2025
Countries including the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany have condemned Israel’s decision to approve 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling the move a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.
In a joint statement, Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain urged Israel to reverse the approvals and halt further settlement expansion.
The governments warned that such unilateral steps deepen tensions and undermine efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.
The statement reiterated long-standing opposition to annexation and settlement growth, noting that expanding Israeli communities in the West Bank risks fuelling instability amid broader diplomatic efforts focused on Gaza and the wider region.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected the criticism, insisting the cabinet’s decision was driven by security considerations and defending what he described as the right of Jews to live anywhere in the Land of Israel.
