UK, Germany, Italy, and France Call on Israel to End West Bank Settlement Expansion

May 22, 2026

The UK, Germany, Italy, and France issued a joint statement on May 22, 2026, calling on Israel to end settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and address settler violence. The statement drew particular attention to the E1 settlement project, which aims to bisect the West Bank, and affirmed that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. The four European powers warned that Israeli government policies are undermining prospects for a two-state solution.

European joint statement

▪The UK, Germany, Italy, and France urged the Israeli government to ensure accountability for settler violence in their joint statement on May 22, 2026.
▪The UK, Germany, Italy, and France urged the Israeli government to conduct investigations into what is directed at Israeli forces in their joint statement on May 22, 2026.
▪The UK, Germany, Italy, and France called on the Israeli government to end the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank in a joint statement reported by Wafa news agency on May 22, 2026.

Settlement expansion concerns

▪The E1 settlement project aims to bisect the occupied West Bank according to the joint statement by the UK, Germany, Italy, and France on May 22, 2026.
▪Israeli settlements are deemed illegal under international law according to the joint statement by the UK, Germany, Italy, and France on May 22, 2026.
▪The UK, Germany, Italy, and France drew particular attention to the E1 settlement project in their joint statement on May 22, 2026.

Two-state solution impact

▪The policies and practices of the Israeli government are undermining stability and prospects for a two-state solution according to top European leaders on May 22, 2026.
▪The policies and practices of the Israeli government include a further entrenchment of Israeli control according to top European leaders on May 22, 2026.