France and Italy urge Israel to halt West Bank settlement expansion
France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany have urged Israel to halt its settlement expansion in the West Bank. The European quartet said the Israeli government was harming stability and the prospects for a two-state solution.
“We call on the Israeli government to end the expansion of settlements and its administrative authority, ensure accountability for settler violence, and investigate the allegations against Israeli forces,” the countries said in a joint statement released to AFP on Saturday, 23 May 2026.
Noting that the situation in the West Bank has “significantly deteriorated” in recent months, the four governments said settler violence against Palestinians had reached an “unprecedented level”.
“The policies and practices of the Israeli government, including a further cementing of Israeli control, are undermining stability and the prospects for a two-state solution,” the statement said.
The four countries condemned Israel’s E1 settlement plan — a new development project expected to build around 3,400 housing units in the occupied West Bank on land covering 12 square kilometres (4.6 square miles) — saying it would be a “serious breach of international law”.
“Companies should not bid for E1 construction tenders or for any other settlement building. They must be aware of the legal and reputational consequences of participating in settlement construction, including the risks of involvement in serious breaches of international law,” the statement said.
The statement also called on Israel to lift financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian economy.
The four countries also noted that they “strongly oppose” positions, including by members of the Israeli government, that advocate annexation and the forcible eviction of Palestinians.
Since the Gaza war escalated in October 2023, daily violence has also shaken the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967.
The joint statement followed a tense week in Europe–Israel relations after the publication of a video showing harsh treatment of European activists from a flotilla bound for Gaza while in Israeli detention.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir published a video showing the activists being forced to kneel, foreheads touched to the ground and hands bound.
Italy and Spain subsequently called on the European Union to sanction Ben-Gvir, while Ireland urged the EU to act against Israel over the treatment of the activists, according to a leaked letter seen by AFP.
Meanwhile, the UK summoned a senior Israeli diplomat in London after what it described as an “incendiary” video.