The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process is deeply disturbed by Israel's expansion of settlements in the West Bank

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

In his briefing to the Council on the implementation of resolution 2334, Wennesland said that Israel's policies and practices were systematically changing the land status quo in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, creating dangerous dynamics and threatening the existence of a two-State solution. Settlement expansion, settler violence and Israel's recent administrative measures in the occupied West Bank and its massive declaration of land as State property are fundamentally changing the landscape and intensifying the occupation.

Settlement activity continues

Vennesland said Security Council resolution 2334 calls on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem" and to "fully respect all its legal obligations in this regard." He noted, however, that settlement activity continued.

In total, he said that in the settlements of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israel has advanced or approved about 6,370 housing units.

He noted that on July 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. In its conclusions, the Court reaffirmed that "Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, were established and maintained in violation of international law". The Court concluded that "the State of Israel is under an obligation to immediately cease all new settlement activities and to withdraw all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory".

The demolition and confiscation of Palestinian-owned buildings continues throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Vennesland said. Israel authorities demolished, confiscated or forced people to demolish 373 buildings, displacing 553 people, including 247 children, on the grounds that Palestinians did not have building permits issued by Israel.

End the conflict in Gaza and violence in the West Bank

UNSCR 2334 calls for "immediate measures to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including terrorist acts, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction," Wennesland said. Unfortunately, the devastating conflict in Gaza continues, while violence continues on a daily basis in the occupied West Bank of the Jordan.

He stressed that in order to meet the challenges ahead, a political and security framework must be put in place to address the humanitarian catastrophe, begin early recovery, rebuild Gaza, and lay the groundwork for a political process that ends the occupation and establishes a two-state solution. These frameworks must contribute to the establishment of a legitimate Palestinian Government that will reunite Gaza and the occupied West Bank politically, economically and administratively, while reversing the deteriorating dynamics in the occupied West Bank.

At the same time, Wennesland noted that a series of explosions and the firing of rockets at Israel in recent days throughout Lebanon have added to the instability. He called on all parties to refrain from taking steps that could further exacerbate the situation and to take immediate action to de-escalate the situation.