Germany Urges Israel to Abandon West Bank Settlement Expansion

Berlin — The German government has called on Israel not to proceed with its plan to construct thousands of new housing units in a settlement in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, Germany’s Foreign Ministry said such expansion violates international law and undermines prospects for a negotiated two-state solution. The ministry reiterated Berlin’s position that settlements in the occupied territories are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace.

The planned project is part of a broader settlement expansion initiative that has drawn criticism from the United Nations, the European Union, and several governments worldwide.