The US State Department this evening (Tuesday) condemned Israel's intention to approve the construction of thousands of housing units in Judea and Samaria tomorrow.
The State Department said in a statement that "the US administration is very concerned about Israel's intention to promote the construction of thousands of housing units in Judea and Samaria."
As you may recall, in recent weeks Israel has approved the construction of thousands of housing units throughout Judea and Samaria
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. "strongly opposes" the move and that "it goes against efforts to reduce tensions."
"Settlements are contrary to international law and constitute an obstacle to a two-state solution and to a just, stable and comprehensive peace between the parties," he added.
The Trump administration's US envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, called the announcement a "mistake" and attacked the Biden administration for "comparing Israel to the Palestinian Authority, while there is no room for such a comparison," he said.
The first swallow?
At the same time, the Finnish Association of Lutheran Churches (FELM) announced the severance of its ties with the organization "Children of the World - Palestine Defense," which was declared a terrorist organization by Israel due to its ties to the Popular Front.
In an interview given by the head of the Church Association, Reverend Rolf Stephenson, the union donated about 20,000 euros a year to the Palestinian organization.
The union said it had previously cooperated with the organization since 2015, following its ties with the United Nations and in cooperation with the European Union and UNICEF - but following its declaration as a terrorist organization by Defense Minister Bnei Gantz last Friday, it will stop cooperating with it. .
Gantz declared six Palestinian organizations terrorist organizations, after it was determined that they were affiliated with the Popular Front organization - a well-known terrorist organization responsible for many terrorist attacks in Israeli territory, including the Maalot disaster and the assassination of Rehavam Zeevi (Gandhi).
The world has condemned the Israeli move, and many parties continue to cooperate with these organizations demonstratively despite the Ministry of Defense's announcement.
Just today, the EU representative met with representatives of the six organizations, and the union's official Twitter account condemned Ganz's decision.
"The union representative clarified that the union takes the issue very seriously, and asks for clarification from its Israeli partners.
Past allegations of misuse of union funds by Palestinian civil society organizations have not been proven.
The EU representative reiterated that the union will abide by international law, and will strengthen civil society organizations, "the union said in a tweet.
At the same time, the French Foreign Ministry commented on the Defense Minister's declaration and expressed his "concern" about the Israeli move: "France reiterates its commitment to the vital role of civil society in democratic life. In the message.
Maor Tzemach of the Lech Yerushalayim organization, and Matan Peleg of the If You Will movement, said in response: "The EU will be ashamed of itself.
Apart from turning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a thriving business, where propaganda organizations and terrorist organizations profit from the conflict and make a living from it - it has never acted and done anything to calm the winds.
The political subversion and colonial impudence of the European Union knows no bounds.
"We very much hope that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will not show weakness, that he will stand firm even once against this foreign and intolerable intervention, and that he will defend Defense Minister Bnei Gantz in the full sense of the word."