France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Britain on Thursday called on Israel to cancel its decision to build more new settlements in the West Bank, warning the move would imperil prospects for peace with the Palestinians.
"We urge the Government of Israel to reverse its decision to advance the construction of 540 settlement units in the Har Homa E area of the occupied West Bank, and to cease its policy of settlement expansion across the Occupied Palestinian Territories," the statement said.
"Settlements are illegal under international law, and threaten prospects for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," the statement continued.
"If implemented, the decision to advance settlements in Har Homa, between East Jerusalem and Bethlehem, will cause further damage to the prospects for a viable Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and a Palestinian State," the statement underlined.
