European Union Calls on Israel to Halt West Bank Settlement Expansion

The European Union has reiterated its demand that Israel stop expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning that the construction of new outposts threatens the feasibility of a two‑state solution. EU officials highlighted a recent allocation of 1.3 billion shekels (about $428 million) for 34 new settlements, one of the bloc’s largest funding moves for the area. The EU also condemned recent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian children, noting injuries to two youngsters in Wadi al‑Sha’er and the shooting of a 16‑year‑old boy. EU foreign ministers have failed to agree on concrete sanctions, though some member states are pushing for stricter trade measures against settlements. The bloc maintains that it does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over territories occupied since 1967 and regards the settlements as illegal under international law. It warned that continued expansion isolates Palestinian communities, increases the risk of human‑rights violations, and undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.