In a statement issued today, the bloc’s spokesman for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Peter Stano, pointed out that the Israeli actions are incompatible with efforts to reduce tensions and ensure stability in the region.

The settlements are illegal and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution and a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, he asserted.

The EU has always made clear that it strongly opposes the expansion of such construction and will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, even with respect to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties, he added.

According to official Palestinian data, Israel has built more than 31,000 homes in the 144 settlements located in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 2004 and erected another 139 outposts for future settlements.

Meanwhile, the number of settlers grew from 415,000 17 years ago to 660,000 in 2019, despite the rejection of the international community and the resolutions by the United Nations Security Council.

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