G-7 Condemns Israeli Expansion in West Bank Not Seen in Decades
People walk along a heavily damaged street in the occupied West Bank on July 9.
Photographer: Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Group of Seven nations issued one of the more severe condemnations of Israel since the war with Hamas began in October, calling on the reversal of land seizures and legalization of outposts in the occupied West Bank.
In a joint statement Thursday, G-7 foreign ministers said the appropriation of 1,270 hectares of land in the Palestinian territory would amount to the “largest” such expansion since 1993. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also moved to legalize five so-called outposts, a type of settlement, while the government approved the addition of 5,000 housing units.