Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney condemned Monday Israel’s recent settlement expansion plans in the occupied West Bank.
“I condemn decisions taken this week by the Israeli authorities approving the construction of thousands of housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank” said the Irish Minister.
“This week’s announcements include construction in areas such as al-Khalil which are far from the 1967 border and which could never be included in any possible agreed land swap between the parties” according to his statements.
“The relentless expansion of settlements especially in such sensitive areas break up the land area on which a Palestinian state is to be established” he added.
The Irish official said he was also “deeply concerned about announcements of construction in sensitive areas of East Jerusalem and by the ongoing dispossession and eviction of Palestinian residents to make way for illegal settlement activity.”
“Such unilateral and provocative actions undermine the credibility of the Israeli authorities’ commitment to a peaceful negotiated solution something which is essential for Israel to secure its future and for Palestinians to enjoy their full political rights” he said.
He concluded by calling on Israel “to reverse these decisions which represent a serious threat to the two-state solution to which Ireland the European Union and the international community are fully committed.”
