Denmark has officially joined an international coalition of 20 countries and the European Commission in issuing a joint declaration against Israel’s recent move to advance settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The announcement, released on Tuesday, specifically targets the Israeli government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project.
The signatories labeled the decision to move forward with the E1 project as "unacceptable." They issued a strong warning that the development could severely undermine the viability of a two-state solution. According to the statement, the project threatens to drive a "wedge through the West Bank" and compromise the territorial contiguity essential for future Palestinian statehood.
In their declaration, the participating countries reaffirmed that international law prohibits the establishment of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, a stance they noted aligns with the position held by the international community and previously reaffirmed by the UN Security Council. Beyond the E1 project, the signatories expressed deep alarm regarding the overall climate in the occupied West Bank, highlighting "unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians" alongside restrictive measures that are actively harming the Palestinian economy.
The coalition has urged the Israeli government to immediately withdraw its expansion plans and cease all settlement activities in the region. Furthermore, the declaration includes a direct warning to businesses, advising them against bidding on the construction tenders. The signatories cautioned that such involvement could lead to significant legal and reputational consequences, noting the risk of being implicated in serious breaches of international law. The statement concluded by reiterating the collective commitment of the participating nations to achieving a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution."
