Middle East: France calls on Israel to "abandon" its West Bank settlement project

France called on Israel on Saturday "to abandon its project" to build 3,400 housing units in the West Bank , which "constitutes a serious violation of international law," the Foreign Ministry said.

"France condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision of the Israeli authorities to approve the E1 settlement project, which provides for the construction of more than 3,000 housing units east of Jerusalem," a ministry spokesperson said.

A response to announcements of recognition of Palestine

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (far right) called on Thursday to accelerate a key project to build 3,400 housing units in the West Bank and to annex this Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, in response to announcements by several countries to recognize a State of Palestine .

Faced with the continuing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian disaster in this Palestinian territory, several countries, including France, the United Kingdom and Canada, have said they are considering recognizing a State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September.

The realization of this settlement project "would cut the West Bank in two and seriously undermine the two-state solution, the only one capable of guaranteeing lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians," Paris believes.

France emphasizes that it "remains mobilized alongside its European partners to increase pressure on Israel, in order to put an end to colonization, including through new sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for colonization."