The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates issued a strong condemnation on Tuesday in response to the Israeli authorities’ decision to prevent three European foreign ministers from visiting Palestinian villages in the classified “Area C” of the occupied West Bank.
This move is seen as an extension of Israel’s ongoing encroachment upon Palestinian land and a breach of previously signed agreements. It is part of the larger framework of the Israeli occupation’s open war and ethnically-driven displacement against the entire Palestinian presence, in both Jerusalem and all regions designated as “Area C.”
In an official press statement, the ministry emphasized that the Israeli authorities have been systematically destroying Palestinian structures, facilities, and homes in these areas, including those funded by European sources. This destruction serves the purpose of seizing the lands, which constitute a significant portion of the West Bank’s territory, and allocating them for settlement expansion and colonialism in the State of Palestine.
The ministry went on to characterize this decision as a diplomatic scandal, calling on the European Union, its institutions, and member states to strongly denounce it and not let it pass unnoticed.
The ministry highlighted the real risks this Israeli stance poses to the prospects of a two-state solution, particularly as it is illegal, illegitimate, and falls outside the authority of the occupying power.
Furthermore, it stressed that silence on this matter would embolden the Israeli state to persist in annexing the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It serves as a reminder of the importance of international diplomacy and the role of the European Union and its member states in promoting a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict in accordance with international law and relevant agreements.
