Nine nations condemn Israeli settlement expansion in West Bank

The Palestinian Authority presidency welcomed a joint statement by nine Western countries condemning Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, describing it as “an important step in the right direction”.

The statement specifically warned against the controversial E1 project, which would link the illegal Maale Adumim settlement to Jerusalem.

Palestinian officials urged countries to follow their criticism with concrete measures to pressure Israel into halting settlement expansion and other policies in the occupied territory.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later said that a two-state solution remained the only path to a “just and lasting peace”.