Japan expresses its concern about the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank
Riyadh – SPA:
The Government of Japan expressed its deep concern over the Government of Israel’s approval of the construction of 11 new settlements and the legalization of eight settlement outposts in the West Bank, reiterating its deep regret regarding the continuation of settlement activities despite repeated calls from the international community, including Japan.
She stressed in a statement by the official spokesman for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kitamura Toshihiro, that settlement activities constitute a violation of international law and undermine the two-state solution, calling on the government of Israel to reverse this decision and completely freeze its settlement activities.
It indicated that it had taken punitive measures against four settlers involved in acts of violence in cooperation with the international community, expressing its deep concern about reports of an increase in the rate of settler violence against Palestinians.
Japan stressed the need to refrain from actions that escalate the tensions occurring in the West Bank, amid ongoing international efforts to achieve stability in the situation surrounding the Gaza Strip.
