The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) nations denounced Israel’s decision to expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling the move detrimental to the peace process.
Last month, Israel announced plans to legalize five settlement outposts in the West Bank, create three new settlements, and seize large swathes of land that Palestinians seek for a future independent state.
The G7, comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, and Italy, condemned this action and urged Israel to reverse its decision, according to Reuters.
In a statement, the G7 reaffirmed their commitment to “a lasting and sustainable peace… based on a two-state solution.”
The G7 foreign ministers also called on Israel to release all withheld tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, emphasizing that maintaining economic stability in the West Bank is “vital for regional security.”
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and has established settlements considered illegal under international law.
Israel differentiates between unauthorized outposts built without government approval and settlements officially sanctioned by the state. Excluding East Jerusalem, which Israel has annexed, more than 490,000 settlers live in the West Bank alongside three million Palestinians.
