Canada and allies condemn Israeli settlement expansion amid West Bank tensions

Western leaders from Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Britain issued a joint statement opposing Israel's policy in Judea and Samaria and expressing support for a two-state solution.

European countries have steadily increased their criticism of Israel in recent months, and even staunch supporters like Merz and Meloni — the EU’s most prominent conservative leaders — have taken a notably tougher stance on expansionist ambitions.

The statement singled out the E1 Israeli settlement project, which would connect occupied territories in East Jerusalem with another Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

In February, Israel approved a plan to claim large areas of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank as “state property”.