Press release

UK deplores Israeli government settlement decision

UK deplores Israeli government decision to advance plans for settlement units in Givat Hamatos and urges them to reverse decision.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Philip Hammond
• Published: 3 October 2014

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

The Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said:

The UK deplores the Israeli government’s decision to advance plans for 2610 settlement units in Givat Hamatos. This is an ill-judged decision which will have serious implications for the possibility of Jerusalem being a shared capital in a future two-state peace agreement and will hinder the process.

The UK’s position on Israeli settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law. If this development is built it will damage the prospect of a two-state solution, and it will make it more difficult for Israel’s friends to defend it against accusations that it is not serious about peace. We urge Israel to reverse this decision.

Further information

• Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter @PHammondMP

• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice

• Follow the Foreign Office on Facebook and Google+

Media enquiries

For journalists

Email newsdesk@fco.gov.uk

Published 3 October 2014