Albanese joins coalition of nations calling for an end to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank
Summary
Australia and several other Western countries, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have called for an end to Israeli settlement building in the West Bank. They said the settlements are illegal under international law and harm peace efforts between Israel and Palestine.Key Facts
- A group of leaders from Australia, the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, and New Zealand issued a joint statement against Israeli settlements.
- They said settler violence in the West Bank is at the highest level seen recently.
- The statement declared that Israeli settlements in the West Bank violate international law.
- The E1 Israeli settlement project, planned to connect parts of East Jerusalem with the West Bank, was specifically criticized.
- Israel’s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich supports the project and said it would end hopes for a Palestinian state.
- Some Israeli officials, including Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, have been sanctioned by several countries for promoting violence and human rights abuses.
- The leaders urged Israel to stop settlement expansion, address settler violence, respect Jerusalem’s holy sites, and lift financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority.
- Australia’s Energy Minister Chris Bowen said this statement follows Australia’s consistent position on the issue.
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