European diplomats have rejected Israel’s policy of settlement construction and expansion in Palestinian territories.
A statement said Thursday that “EU and like-minded countries visited Beita village in response to rising levels of settler violence and the building of an illegal Israeli outpost on top of Mount Sabih, resulting in regular clashes and casualties.”
“For months, the people of Beita have been exposed to serious incidents of settler violence and the building of an illegal Israeli outpost on Mount Sabih, which risks capturing up to 30 % of Beita’s land,” said European Union Representative Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff also stated via his representative.
“These developments have left many families suffering. Several Palestinians lost their lives, including two children,” he said.
“The policy of settlement construction and expansion in occupied Palestinian territory, including in East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law, and Israel must protect the Palestinian population from these violent attacks,” he added.
The diplomats held talks with local residents about the region's developments during the trip.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the total number of Israeli settler attacks across the West Bank in 2021 has increased by 46 percent compared to the same period in 2020.
