UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly opposed Israel’s plans to establish new settlements in the occupied West Bank. On Thursday, his spokesperson stated that settlement construction in Jerusalem and the West Bank constitutes a clear violation of international law.
The statement emphasized that such illegal settlements would further entrench occupation and heighten tensions. It also warned that these moves could undermine the prospects for a two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Recently, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approved the construction of 3,401 settlement units in Ma’ale Adumim in East Jerusalem and an additional 1,515 units in surrounding areas. The project aims to divide the West Bank into northern and southern sections, sever connections between cities, and isolate East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned this action, noting that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. Saudi Arabia has also criticized the plan, describing it as a violation of international law and an infringement on the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of a sovereign state.
The UN Secretary-General has called on Israel to immediately halt these settlement plans.