LOC22:38
19:38 GMT
BRUSSELS, July 20 (KUNA) -- The EU Foreign Affairs Council Monday condemned the Israeli expansionist policies in occupied Palestine and called on Tel Aviv to fundamentally changes its occupation policies.
The Council, in a statement after its meeting, noted Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, and reiterated "strong opposition to Israel's settlement policy and actions taken in this context, such as building the separation barrier beyond the 1967 line, demolitions and confiscation - including of EU funded projects - evictions, forced transfers including of Bedouins, illegal outposts, settler violence and restrictions of movement and access.
"The preservation of the viability of the two state solution is at the core of EU policy and will remain a priority. These actions seriously threaten the two state solution. Settlement activity in East Jerusalem seriously jeopardizes the possibility of Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both states" it warned.
The Council stressed that actions such as the easing of restrictions must be part of a fundamental change of policy with regard to the occupied Palestinian territory.
It said that an immediate priority must be to address the grave situation in the Gaza Strip, and noted that one year after the conflict, the humanitarian and socio-economic situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire.
The Council called for a fundamental change of the political, security and economic situation in the Gaza Strip, including the end of the closure and a full opening of the crossing points.
The EU urged all Palestinian factions to find common ground, based on non-violence and reconciliation, and to work together to address the needs of the Palestinian population.
The EU will continue to closely monitor developments on the ground and their broader implications and remains ready to take further action in order to protect the viability of the two state solution, it added. (end)
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