By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - Britain expressed concern on Wednesday about growing Israeli settlements and increased extremist violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, while reiterating that a two-state solution is “the only viable path to a just and lasting peace.”
Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, said in a statement to the House of Commons that the UK is committed to a two-state solution.
"Settlements are growing and extremist violence against Palestinians is on the rise. Thousands of Palestinians and their communities face the prospect of demolitions and evictions," he said.
Falconer stated that continued settlement expansion and Israeli government actions disrupting the occupied West Bank's economy threaten a two-state solution.
"The situation we face right now is not only an affront to the rights of Palestinians. It runs counter to Israelis' long-term security and democracy as well," he added.
It comes as 14 Israeli ministers and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana signed a letter Wednesday demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately annex the occupied territory.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Middle East War and has rejected efforts to establish a Palestinian state based on a two-state solution.
It has accelerated settlement activities in the occupied territory since the start of its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
At least 988 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank by Israeli forces and illegal settlers since October 2023, according to Palestinian figures.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last July declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.