A joint statement with France, Germany, Italy, Poland and
Spain on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
(OPTs)
France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom,
express their grave concern in the face of the continuing,
growing violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
We strongly condemn recent terrorist attacks that killed Israeli
citizens. Terrorism can under no circumstance be justified.
We also strongly condemn indiscriminate violence by Israeli
settlers against Palestinian civilians, including destruction of
homes and properties.
We are saddened by all loss of life. These acts can lead nowhere,
except to more violence. Those responsible must face full
accountability and legal prosecution. All unilateral actions that
threaten peace and incitement to violence must cease.
There has been a spark of hope coming from the recent meeting in
Aqaba, where Israelis and Palestinians both affirmed reciprocal
commitments, including on efforts to de-escalate and work towards
a just and lasting peace. Such a result is a first in many years,
and we thank the United States of America and Kingdom of
Jordan for making it possible. We urge all parties to refrain
from making this fragile process derail, and call on all parties
to make good on the commitments they made in the Aqaba meeting by
de-escalating in words and deeds and to restore calm, in order
for those efforts to blossom and to make the next meeting in
Egypt a success.
There can be no desirable outcome other than a just and lasting
peace for all. In this regard, we also reiterate our strong
opposition to all unilateral measures that undermine the
Two-state solution, including expansion of settlements which are
illegal under international law. We urge the Israeli government
to reverse its recent decision to advance the construction of
more than 7,000 settlement building units across the occupied
West Bank and to legalize settlement outposts.
