EU condemns Israeli occupation's decision to legalise settlement outposts

The European Union (EU) expressed its condemnation and rejection of the Israeli occupation government's legalization of nine settlement outposts, in addition to building 100,000 settlement units in the West Bank.EU Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano said in a statement that EU rejects this decision and reiterates its position that settlements are illegal under international law.The EU renews its call on the Israeli authorities to halt settlement construction and to reverse these latest decisions, expressing its concern at the same time by the heightened tensions and increased violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.The EU indicated that in the current worrying context, it is important to consider steps to de-escalate the situation and avoid unilateral decisions and actions that would undermine the viability of a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict, and fuel more tensions.