Egypt has condemned the Israeli government’s decision to “legalize” settlement outposts in the Palestinian territories and to build new settlement units.
A statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows the Israeli Cabinet’s announcement on Sunday to legalize nine settlements in the West Bank.
Egypt sees the move as “an unacceptable provocative act” that could escalate tension in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The ministry said that Israel’s decision constitutes a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions and the relevant rules of international law.
The decision coincided with the convening of the Jerusalem Conference in Cairo, which was concluded on Sunday.
Egypt warned of the consequences of Israel's decision, which would greatly inflame the situation in the occupied territories and have dire repercussions on the security and stability of the entire region.
Cairo demanded that Israel immediately stop all unilateral measures, including house demolitions, arrests, and raids targeting the Palestinian people and their property.
In the statement, Egypt emphasized that “the only way to calm the situation is to stop those practices that violate international laws.”
The statement added that a climate must be created that allows for a “return to the negotiating table with the aim of reaching a solution to the Palestinian issue based on international legitimacy” and achieving “a comprehensive and just peace.”
For his part, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit considered that the resolutions perpetuate the abhorrent Israeli disregard for the will of the international community and reflect the extreme nature of the new Israeli government, in a way that threatens to inflame the situation in the occupied territories and poses a threat to regional stability.
