TOKYO, Thursday, June 22, 2023 (WAFA) – Japan expressed serious concern with Israeli plans to continue with settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“Japan expresses its serious concern over the plans of the Israeli government to advance the process for construction of over 4,000 settlement housing units in the West Bank, as well as the amendments made to settlement approval procedures that could expedite settlement expansion,” Japan’s Press Secretary Hikariko Ono said in a statement yesterday.
“Settlement activities are in violation of international law and Japan has repeatedly called upon the Israeli government to fully freeze those activities. The move on the Israeli side this time clearly goes against efforts by the international community to stabilize the situation and to create a political horizon towards a two-state solution,” she said.
“Amid the deteriorating security situation, as exemplified by the recent clashes in Jenin, it is essential for all the parties concerned to refrain from unilateral actions including settlement activities and provocative behavior in order to prevent further escalation.”
M.K.
