PARIS, Saturday, February 22, 2020 (WAFA) - France condemned yesterday the announcement in Israel regarding the construction of several thousand housing units in the illegal settlements of Har Homa and Givat Hamatos in occupied East Jerusalem.

A statement by the French Foreign Ministry said the “expansion of these two settlements directly undermines the viability of a future Palestinian state, as the European Union has reiterated on several occasions.”

It added, “All forms of settlement activity are illegal under international law and challenge the two-state solution on the ground. France urges the Israeli authorities to reconsider these decisions and to refrain from any unilateral measures.”

France reaffirmed that “the two-state solution, with both states living in peace and security within secure, recognized borders and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region. It stands ready to support any effort in this direction based on agreed international parameters and coming about through negotiations between the parties.”

M.K.