Bangladesh protests Israeli plan to advance settlement construction in occupied West Bank

Bangladesh on Thursday strongly protested Israel’s plan to advance settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, urging the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent actions that undermine Palestinian statehood, Anadolu reports.

“Bangladesh strongly condemns Israel’s plan to advance settlement construction in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Such actions are contrary to international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and further undermine the territorial integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory and prospects for a viable two-state solution,” it added.

Dhaka also called on Israel to immediately halt all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation of 175 million people that does not recognize Israel, emphasized the need for international diplomatic efforts to advance a just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on international law and the two-state solution.

Israeli authorities are considering plans to build 1,670 new housing units in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission said Wednesday.

Earlier this week, 12 Western countries called on Israel to halt settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and backed measures targeting Israeli settlements, including sanctions and trade restrictions.

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