EU condemns Israeli Knesset Regularisation Bill

The European Union yesterday condemned the adoption of the Regularisation Bill by the Israeli Knesset, saying that the law "crosses a new and dangerous threshold".

According to the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA, EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, said in a statement that the law may provide for legalising numerous settlements and outposts previously considered illegal, even under Israeli law, which would be contrary to previous commitments by Israeli governments and illegal under international law.

"In passing this new law, the Israeli parliament has legislated on the legal status of land within occupied territory, which is an issue that remains beyond its jurisdiction," she added.

The EU considers Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory to be illegal under international law and condemns the recent settlement announcements, saying that settlements constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten the viability of a two-state solution, she noted.

She also noted that recently adopted UN Security Council Resolution No. 2334 considers Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory to be illegal under international law and condemns the recent settlement announcements The EU urged the Israeli leadership to refrain from implementing the law and to avoid measures that further raise tensions and endanger the prospects for a peaceful solution to the conflict.