Arab League welcomes EU decision on Israeli settlements

The Arab League welcomed a European Union Ministerial Council decision to “continue to implement the EU’s legislation which applies to the Israeli settlement products, renewing its commitment to ensure the execution of all agreements between Israel and the EU and that they are not applicable to the occupied territories in 1967.”

According to a statement issued yesterday, Said Abu Ali, assistant secretary-general and president of the Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories sector at the Arab League, said: “The Arab League welcomes this important step taken by the European Union which confirms the illegality of the settlements and the Israeli occupation.”

Abu Ali called for a more effective European role to end the occupation, establish a Palestinian state and achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative.

The European Union said that all agreements with Israel are not effective in the territories occupied in 1967, pointing out that the EU’s position is “clear and conclusive” and is not considered a boycott of the state of Israel.