Italy, France, UK and Germany demand Israel halt West Bank construction, prosecute violent soldiers, settlers

Officials including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at the cornerstone-laying ceremony for a new area of the West Bank settlement of Ariel, April 27, 2026. (Courtesy)
Officials including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at the cornerstone-laying ceremony for a new area of the West Bank settlement of Ariel, April 27, 2026. (Courtesy)

Italy, France, Britain and Germany condemn settler violence, demand Israel investigate alleged abuses by soldiers and call on it to stop expanding settlements in the West Bank.

“We call on the government of Israel to end its expansion of settlements and administrative powers, ensure accountability for settler violence and investigate allegations against Israeli forces,” Europe’s four largest economies say in a joint statement, noting that violence against Palestinians by settlers is at “unprecedented levels.”

The statement warns construction companies not to bid for tenders to build in the West Bank settlements, and adds that Israel’s planned construction in the E1 area, east of Jerusalem, would divide the territory into two and mark a serious breach of legal norms.

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