Lebanon Condemns Israeli Settler Actions in the West Bank

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants condemned, in a statement, "the criminal acts perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, which have alarmingly increased in recent weeks without any deterrent or accountability from the Israeli state or the international community, resulting in the deaths of approximately a thousand Palestinians residing in the West Bank this year." The ministry also condemned "the Israeli forces' decision to establish a new settlement on land in occupied East Jerusalem and the expansion of settlements, the forcible confiscation of Palestinian land, the demolition of Palestinian homes, and the expulsion of their residents, as well as the measures aimed at the forced displacement of populations. These provocative actions represent clear violations and breaches of international law and international legitimacy resolutions, notably Security Council Resolution 2334 issued in 2016, which considers settlement activities illegal in all Palestinian territories." The ministry called on the international community to "take urgent action to halt the illegal Israeli unilateral measures aimed at undermining all opportunities and initiatives that seek to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in our region and to compel Israel to respect international legitimacy. These aggressive actions coincide with the fierce war on the Gaza Strip, which is systematically destroying it and claiming thousands of innocent civilian lives, especially children, women, and the elderly."