NewsWorldArgentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, against the expansion of Israeli colonization

Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, against the expansion of Israeli colonization

Photo: AFP.

Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico expressed this Friday their “deep concern” over the decision of the Government of Israel to build thousands of new houses in colonies in the West Bank and “legalize” nine settlements in those Palestinian territories under military occupation.

In a joint communiqué Issued by their respective Foreign Ministries, the governments of the four Latin American countries said that the plans of the Israeli Executive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could hinder the creation of a Palestinian State, something to which they ratified their support.

Netanyahu’s plans

Last week, the new Israeli government that took office in December, considered the most right-wing in the country’s history, announced plans to build 10,000 new houses in Israeli colonies in the West Bank and to “legalize” nine settlements in the region.

Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a war against Arab countries in 1967, and has since built dozens of colonies there where 475,000 Israelis now live among 2.8 million Palestinians.

The Palestinians claim these territories to found a state alongside Israel.

Most of the international community supports the idea, though it says the two-state solution must be reached in negotiations between the two parties and that the Palestinians must give up on achieving their goal through armed violence.

Peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine have been stalled for years due to Israel’s refusal to stop what it describes as the “natural growth of the colonies.”

AFP photo
Photo: AFP.

The Palestinians say this shows Israel’s bad faith and its intentions to keep the settlements.

The nine settlements that Israel decided to “legalize” were illegal under Israeli law because they were established without government approval.

However, UN considers all Jewish settlement in the West Bank illegal under international lawaccording to resolution number 2334 of the United Nations Security Council, of December 2016.

“Serious violations of international law”

In their communiqué, the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico described Israel’s plans as “unilateral measures” that “constitute serious violations of International Law and United Nations Security Council Resolutions, especially number 2334, In addition, they contribute to raising the current tensions”.

“Our governments express their opposition to any action that compromises the viability of the two-state solution, in which Israel and Palestine can share secure and internationally recognized borders, while respecting the legitimate aspirations of both peoples to live in peace. “added the note.

“The governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico call on Israelis and Palestinians to refrain from acts and provocations that could promote a further escalation of violence and to resume negotiations to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict,” the statement said.

The decision of the Netanyahu government was already questioned last week by the United States and the European Union (EU).

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