The Japanese Foreign Ministry has voiced its reaction to the plan to legalize five illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank where Jews who have usurped Palestinian land live. The statement, which emphasized concerns about the expansion plan, stated that Israel’s settlement activities violated international law and undermined the two-state solution.
“The Japanese government strongly calls on the Israeli government to withdraw this decision and completely freeze settlement activities,” the statement said.
Acts of Violence Condemned
The statement said it was seriously concerned about the increase in violent acts by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the region, and emphasized that Japan condemns such acts of violence. It was called on Israel to take appropriate measures to prevent violence by extremist settlers, and said: “Given the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza, Japan emphasizes that actions that would escalate tensions, including in the West Bank, must be avoided.”
The statement noted that 451 thousand Israelis in the occupied West Bank and 230 thousand Israelis in East Jerusalem had usurped Palestinian lands, and it was reminded that these settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem were illegal according to international law.
On June 28, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the legalization of five illegal settlements in the West Bank’s “Area B” upon the request of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
