Joint statement on behalf of France, Germany, Italy and the UK on
the situation in the West Bank.
"We – France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom – strongly
condemn the massive increase of settler violence against
Palestinian civilians and call for stability in the West Bank.
Destabilising activity risks undermining the success of the 20
Point Plan for Gaza and prospects for long-term peace and
security.
The number of attacks has reached new heights, with 264 attacks
in October according to OCHA, the largest number of settlers'
attacks in a single month since the United Nations began
recording such incidents in 2006.
These attacks must stop. They sow terror among civilians, they
are harmful to the ongoing peace efforts and for the lasting
security of the State of Israel itself.
We, ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom,
call on the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations
under international law and protect the Palestinian population of
the occupied territories. The condemnation of violence by
President Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and other senior
political and military figures must be translated into action. We
therefore urge the Government of Israel to hold those accountable
who are responsible for those crimes and to prevent further
violence by addressing the root causes of this behaviour.
We welcome President Trump's clear opposition to annexation, and
reiterate our opposition to any form of annexation - whether
partial, total or de facto – and settlement policies violating
international law.
After the official approval of the E1 settlement in August 2025,
that would fragment the West Bank, more than 3000 house units'
projects have been approved over the last three weeks, mounting
to 28 000 new housing units approved since January, an all-time
high. We call upon the Government of Israel to reverse its
policy.
The Government of Israel's continued denial of tax revenues which
belong to the Palestinian Authority is unjustifiable. The
Government of Israel must release the tax-revenues, extend the
correspondent banking system between Israeli and Palestinian
banks and allow increased Shekel transfers. These steps are
essential for the Palestinian citizens and the PA's ability to
provide public services. Weakening the PA undermines its ability
to deliver its reform agenda and to take on responsibility in
Gaza, as envisioned in UN Security Council Resolution 2803. A
financial collapse of the PA would only harm regional stability
and the security of Israel itself.
We reaffirm our commitment to a just and comprehensive resolution
of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two-state
solution, with the State of Israel and an independent,
democratic, contiguous, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine,
living side by side in peace and security and mutual recognition.
We reaffirm that there is no alternative to a negotiated
two-state solution."
