BERLIN, October 19, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territory is going to lead to a one-state solution where Palestinians will be deprived of political rights, a statement by the German Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The statement was issued following reports that Israel has stepped up plans to build almost 3000 new housing units in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

“The Federal Government takes this opportunity to reaffirm that it will recognize only such changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, which all the parties have agreed on through negotiations,” said a spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry.

“Settlement construction, illegal under international law, is not the only obstacle to a two-state solution, but each new housing unit consolidates a one-state reality in which the Palestinians are denied the full exercise of their political rights.”

The spokeswoman said that separating East Jerusalem from the West Bank  “is considered, among other factors, a reason to undermine the possibility of establishing a contiguous and viable Palestinian state.”

With this in mind, she said, “we are particularly deeply concerned as we hear reports of speeding up plans to build Givat Hamatos settlement. We call on the Israeli side to refrain from doing this."

M.K.