UK Government Strongly Condemns Israeli Security Cabinet’s Decision to Expand West Bank Control
LONDON — The United Kingdom has issued a strong condemnation following a decision by the Israeli Security Cabinet to approve a series of measures aimed at expanding Israeli control over the occupied West Bank. In a statement released on Monday, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) described the move as a significant obstacle to peace and a violation of international law.
The controversy centers on a set of administrative and legal changes approved by Israeli ministers on Sunday. According to reports, the new measures include the repeal of legislation that previously prohibited the sale of land in the West Bank to private Israeli individuals, as well as the unsealing of land ownership records. Additionally, authority for issuing building permits in a key settlement bloc near Hebron has been transferred from the local Palestinian municipality to Israel’s Civil Administration.
A spokesperson for the FCDO stated, “The UK strongly condemns the Israeli Security Cabinet’s decision yesterday to expand Israeli control over the West Bank. The major changes to land, enforcement, and administrative powers proposed in the West Bank will harm efforts to advance peace and stability.”
British officials emphasized that these structural changes risk permanently altering the status of the territory. “The UK has been clear: any unilateral attempt to alter the geographic or demographic make-up of Palestine is wholly unacceptable and would be inconsistent with international law. We call on Israel to reverse these decisions immediately,” the spokesperson added.
The UK’s stance aligns with growing international criticism regarding the decision. The European Union, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has also issued statements denouncing the move. Critics and international observers have warned that transferring such administrative powers from military to civilian control, alongside the changes to land laws, effectively accelerates the “de facto annexation” of the West Bank.
The British government reiterated its commitment to a diplomatic resolution, stating that “a two-state solution remains the only viable path to long-term peace with a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestine.”
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