Statement by High Representative Federica Mogherini on the "Regularisation Law" adopted by the Israeli Knesset
Bruxelles, 07/02/2017 – 18:55 – UNIQUE ID: 170207_11
Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on the "Regularisation Law" adopted by the Israeli Knesset
The European Union condemns the recent adoption of the "Regularisation Law" by the Israeli Knesset on 6 February. This law crosses a new and dangerous threshold by legalising under Israeli law the seizure of Palestinian property rights and effectively authorising the confiscation of privately owned Palestinian land in occupied territory. The law may provide for "legalising" numerous settlements and outposts previously considered as illegal even under Israeli law, which would be contrary to previous commitments by Israeli governments and illegal under international law.
In passing this new law, the Israeli parliament has legislated on the legal status of land within occupied territory, which is an issue that remains beyond its jurisdiction.
Should it be implemented, the law would further entrench a one-state reality of unequal rights, perpetual occupation and conflict.
The EU, also in line with recently adopted UN Security Council resolution 2334, considers Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory to be illegal under international law and condemns the recent settlement announcements. As identified in the recommendations of the report by the Middle East Quartet, such settlements constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten the viability of a two-state solution.
The EU urges the Israeli leadership to refrain from implementing the law and to avoid measures that further raise tensions and endanger the prospects for a peaceful solution to the conflict, so as to reaffirm unequivocally through actions and policy its continued commitment to a two-state solution in order to rebuild mutual trust and create conditions for direct and meaningful negotiations.
Document Type: Statement
Document Sources: European Union (EU)
Subject: Annexation, Boundaries and demarcation lines, Green Line, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Land, Legal issues, Occupation, Settlements, Statehood-related
Publication Date: 07/02/2017