News story

Foreign Office extremely concerned by Israel’s decision on settlements

FCO spokesperson comments on the Government of Israel’s decision to approve 400 new housing units in settlements in the West Bank.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Published: 14 March 2011

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

An Foreign Office spokesperson today said:

“We are extremely concerned by the Government of Israel’s approval of 400 new housing units in settlements in the West Bank.

We have consistently made clear, including at the UN with France and Germany, that settlements are illegal, an obstacle to peace and a threat to a two-state solution.

Further steps to advance settlement construction are counterproductive and undermine peace at a time when all possible efforts have to be made to return to the negotiating table”.

Published 14 March 2011