Germany Calls on Israel to End Settlement Activity in West Bank

BERLIN: Germany on Friday urged Israel to halt settlement construction in the West Bank, following remarks by Israel’s far-right finance minister about plans to build thousands of new homes that would fragment Palestinian territory.

A spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said Berlin “firmly rejects the Israeli government’s announcements regarding the approval of thousands of new housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.”

Plans for the controversial “E1” settlement, along with the expansion of Maale Adumim, would further restrict the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank, effectively splitting the territory in two and isolating it from East Jerusalem, a German foreign ministry spokesperson said.

The announcement follows Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s statement on Thursday that work would begin on the long-delayed settlement project. His office described the move as one that would “bury” the prospects of a future Palestinian state.

According to Smotrich’s spokesperson, the plan approved by the minister calls for the construction of 3,401 housing units for Israeli settlers in the area between the existing settlement and Jerusalem.

Germany has repeatedly urged Israel to halt settlement construction in the West Bank, warning that such activity violates international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“These moves complicate any steps toward a negotiated two-state solution and an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank,” a German foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Published in Daily Pak, August 15th, 2025