The European Union and the United States criticized Israel's decision to legalize 9 settlement outposts in the West Bank, and considered that it contributes to exacerbating tension and undermining prospects for a two-state solution through negotiations.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement that the United States strongly opposes this step, stressing that "unilateral measures would exacerbate tension and undermine prospects for a two-state solution through negotiations."
The statement expressed Washington's concern over Israel's decision to legalize nine settlements in the West Bank and reports that it is seeking to build 10,000 settlement units.
"Like the previous Democratic and Republican administrations, we strongly oppose these unilateral measures that exacerbate tensions and undermine prospects for a negotiated two-state solution," he added.
"Anything that deviates from our vision of two states for two peoples is harmful in the long term to Israel's security and identity as a Jewish and democratic state, and our vision of equal measures of security, freedom, prosperity and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike," the minister added.
Blinken's position comes the day after the Israeli mini-cabinet took a decision to legalize 9 settlement yar, and the Israeli government intends to approve the construction of new housing in existing settlements in the West Bank.
Yesterday, the Israeli cabinet approved the legalization of settlement outposts in the West Bank (Reuters)
European rejection
In turn, the European Union expressed, on Monday, its rejection of the Israeli government's decision regarding the legalization of outposts, stressing in a statement that the settlement is "illegal."
The statement stated that "the European Union rejects this decision (the legalization of the outposts), and reiterates its position that the settlements are illegal under international law and that it will not recognize any changes to the 1967 borders other than those agreed upon by the two parties."
The European Union called on the Israeli authorities to stop building settlements and to rescind these recent decisions as a matter of urgency.
He expressed his deep concern about the escalating tensions and increasing violence.
Outposts are sites established by settlers on private Palestinian land without the approval of the Israeli government.
About 475,000 Israeli settlers live in outposts not recognized by international law in the West Bank, among more than 2.8 million Palestinians.
In the same context, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the US embassy in Israel had asked Netanyahu for clarifications regarding the legalization of outposts.
According to the newspaper, the US administration had informed the Netanyahu government of its refusal to confer any legitimacy on these illegal outposts.