Paris: Fourteen countries, including France, Britain, Canada, and Germany, have condemned Israel's proposal to establish new settlements in the occupied West Bank.

According to Qatar News Agency, a joint statement issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday urged Israel to abandon its plans to establish 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank and to halt any further expansion of settlements. The statement highlighted the collective stance of Germany, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, Iceland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

The joint declaration expressed strong opposition to any annexation or expansion of settlement policies, emphasizing that such unilateral actions violate international law and contribute to regional instability. The countries urged Israel to reconsider its decision and comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2234, which calls for an end to settlement activities.

The statement also reiterated the commitment of the signatory countries to support the Palestinian right to self-determination and to strive for a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace based on a two-state solution. The Israeli Security Cabinet's recent approval of 19 new settlements in the West Bank has increased the total number of settlements approved over the past three years to 69.