Israel advances most West Bank settlements in decades: EU

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The European Union’s representative office in the Palestinian territories has said that Israel advanced last year the highest number of settlements in the occupied West Bank since the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, AFP reports.

Plans for 12,349 housing units moved towards approval in the West Bank, the EU office said, warning of the impact on a potential two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The EU office said another 18,333 units moved forward in the planning process of annexing east Jerusalem.

The total — 30,682 units in both the West Bank and east Jerusalem — is the highest since 2012, it added.

“The EU has repeatedly called on Israel not to proceed with plans under its settlement policy and to halt all settlement activities,” the EU office said.

“It remains the EU’s firm position that settlements are illegal under international law.

“Israel’s decision to advance plans for the approval and construction of new settlement units in 2023 further undermines the prospects of a viable two-state solution.”

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