Minor interpellation - VP/HR - Israeli settlement policy

27.1.2017

Minor interpellation for written answer O-000006/2017
to the Commission (Vice-President / High Representative)
Rule 130a
Marietje Schaake, Sophia in 't Veld, Kateřina Konečná, Jozo Radoš, Takis Hadjigeorgiou, Ivo Vajgl, Nessa Childers, Stefan Eck, Florent Marcellesi, Alyn Smith, Patrick Le Hyaric, Molly Scott Cato, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Afzal Khan, Barbara Spinelli, Alfred Sant, Bodil Valero, Klaus Buchner, Javier Nart, Helmut Scholz, Hilde Vautmans, Brando Benifei, Jill Evans, Jordi Solé, Marita Ulvskog, Olle Ludvigsson, Jytte Guteland, Jens Nilsson, Anna Hedh, Gabriele Zimmer, Martina Anderson, Claude Turmes, Liadh Ní Riada, Matt Carthy, Nils Torvalds, Agnes Jongerius, Georgi Pirinski, Merja Kyllönen, Neoklis Sylikiotis, Ignazio Corrao, Pascal Durand, Malin Björk, Kati Piri, Tania González Peñas, Eva Joly, Martina Michels, Anne-Marie Mineur, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Marina Albiol Guzmán, Judith Sargentini, Lynn Boylan, Sajjad Karim, Bronis Ropė, Ana Gomes, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Eleonora Evi, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Edouard Martin, Soraya Post, Julie Ward, Michèle Rivasi, Maria Arena

On 24 January 2017, the Israeli Government announced that it would approve the construction of 2 500 new housing units on the West Bank. Such constructions are deemed illegal under international law. Additionally, it was announced last week that the building of hundreds of new houses in (occupied) East Jerusalem has been approved. Both developments come after UN Security Council resolution 2334 of 23 December 2016 condemned Israel’s current settlement policy.

Was the VP/HR made aware of these planned construction projects, and what contacts have there been with the Israeli Government regarding this issue?

Will the VP/HR condemn these and any other future construction projects by Israel, which are illegal under international law and make a two-state solution significantly more difficult?

How will the VP/HR ensure coordination with other international partners to make sure international law is respected?