Albanese joins coalition of nations calling for an end to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank

Key Takeaways

• The Israeli government is undermining stability in the West Bank as settler violence reaches unprecedented levels, a coalition of western countries says, as its leaders call for an end to construction of Israeli settlements it says breach international law.
• In a joint statement issued on Friday, Anthony Albanese and the leaders of the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands and New Zealand said “Over the past few months, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated significantly.
• Settler violence is at unprecedented levels.
• “The policies and practices of the Israeli government, including a further entrenchment of Israeli control, are undermining stability and prospects for a two-state solution.
• “International law is clear: Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal.” The statement singled out the E1 Israeli settlement project, which would connect occupied territories in East Jerusalem with another Israeli settlement in the West Bank.