Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Indonesia suddenly strongly criticized Israel. This was emphasized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) regarding Israel’s decision to legalize nine Jewish settlements in the West Bank and plans to build 10,000 new houses in the region.
“This decision is contrary to international law and related UN resolutions and fuels tension and instability in the region,” said the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a release received CNBC IndonesiaWednesday (15/2/2023).
“The international community must unite to urge Israel to stop these actions and continue to press for a two-state solution,” the Foreign Ministry added.
Israel’s right-wing cabinet government earlier approved the legalization of nine settler outposts in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Sunday. This drew immediate condemnation from the Palestinian Authority (PA), which called the move an “open war” against its people.
“More housing units are likely to be built in separate illegal settlements,” a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday, citing Al Jazeera.
“Nine of the communities have existed for many years. Some have existed for decades,” the statement added, referring to buildings built by Jewish residents without permission from the Israeli government.
In fact, more than half a million Israelis live in more than 200 settlements built on Palestinian land. Under international law this is considered illegal.
Palestinians say the settlement expansion threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the latest decision crossed a line and undermined the peace process.
Similar criticism also came from the United Nations. The agency has condemned illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in various resolutions and ballots, though to little effect.
(sef/sef)
