Egypt condemns Israeli decision to build settlements in West Bank

CAIRO – 1 April 2017: The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement Friday condemning the Israeli cabinet’s approval for building new settlements in the West Bank, confiscating 241 acres of Palestinian lands in the northern West Bank.

The statement asserted that the resumption of the Israeli settlements’ activities reduces the chances of a two-state solution, as it hampers the progress of efforts seeking to re-launch the peace process through opening negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian governments to reach a fair settlement for the Palestinian cause based on international legitimacy laws.

The statement said the Israeli decision attacks the Palestinian people’s right to establish an independent state with its capital as Eastern Jerusalem, and urged Israel to stop taking unilateral actions. It also urged the international community to intensify efforts encouraging both the Israeli and Palestinian sides to continue peace negotiations.