Governments of Britain, Australia and Canada called on the Israeli government to backtrack on its decision to build new settlement units in the occupied West bank.

In a joint statement, the ministers of foreign affairs of the three countries stressed that the expansion of settlements impedes peace efforts and adversely affects the two-state solution through negotiations.

The statement called on the Israeli entity to backtrack on these decisions, pointing out that the Israeli authorities’ approval to carry out new settlement schemes on the occupied territories threatens the opportunities of establishing a viable Palestinian state and the two-state solution as the only guarantee for a permanent peace.

The statement came after the Israel’s Supreme Planning Council’s announcement last week to build over 5600 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank.

Source: Qatar News Agency