The Israeli decision yesterday to endorse an additional 463 housing units in the occupied West Bank and to retroactively approve 179 existing units is a serious concern. Since January 2016, Israeli authorities have promoted or retroactively legalised 2,706 units in West Bank settlements.

The Quartet report published last July identified such action as undermining the prospects for peace and steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution and recommended that any expansion of settlements be frozen. The EU reiterates its strong opposition to Israel's settlement policy and all actions taken in this context.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Maja Kocijancic +32 (0)498 984 425 - +32 (0)2 298 65 70 - Maja.Kocijancic@ec.europa.eu - @MajaEUspox

Nabila Massrali +32 (0)460 75 41 75 - +32 (0)2 29 69218 - Nabila.Massrali@ec.europa.eu - @NabilaEUspox

Lauranne Devillé +32 (0)460 758 775 - +32 (0)2 29 80833 - lauranne.deville@ec.europa.eu