Press release

Minister for Middle East's statement on Israeli settlement construction

Alistair Burt issues a statement on plans to construct over 2,100 settlement units across the West Bank.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Alistair Burt
• Published: 23 August 2018

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said:

Yesterday’s announcement of plans to construct over 1,000 units on the West Bank, and last week’s tendering for 1,100 more, continues policies that are rightly condemned internationally. The UK echoes this condemnation today.

Settlements are illegal under international law and remain one of the obstacles to a viable two state solution.

I call on Israel to halt such counterproductive action, and for all parties to commit to further efforts to de-escalate current tensions and create the right environment for a just and lasting peace.

Published 23 August 2018