Joint statement urges Israel to halt expansion as security cabinet approves additional outposts.
On Wednesday, 14 European countries condemned new Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank.
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“We call on Israel to revoke this decision and cease the expansion of settlements, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334,” the joint statement said. It was signed by France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Iceland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands and Norway.
“We are determined to support the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council,” the group said.
The 14 countries said there is “no other solution” than the coexistence of “two democratic states, Israel and Palestine,” living “side by side in peace and security, within safe and recognized borders.” On Dec. 21, however, Israel’s security cabinet approved the recognition of 19 new settlements in the West Bank.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
69 new Israeli settlements established in occupied Palestinian territory in just 3 years.
19 more announced today.The @CIJ_ICJ has called for Israel to unconditionally and rapidly end its unlawful presence in Palestine.
If the world ignores international law,… pic.twitter.com/uuxO4boEvu
— Itay Epshtain (@EpshtainItay) December 21, 2025
With that decision, the total number of settlements recognized during the tenure of current Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — a far-right politician and settler who is also responsible for settlement policy in the West Bank — rose to 69.
In May, Israeli occupation forces authorized the return of Israeli citizens to the settlements of Sa-Nur, Ganim and Kadim, which they had previously been barred from entering. The move was taken in retaliation after Spain, Norway and Ireland announced their formal recognition of the State of Palestine.
An estimated more than 500,000 settlers currently live in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 war, and another 200,000 live in East Jerusalem, the eastern part of the city occupied at that time and annexed by Israel in 1980.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Middle East: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council that Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank have reached an unprecedented level. pic.twitter.com/0sbRFhkbKN
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 17, 2025
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Source: EFE
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