PARIS (Sputnik) — The French authorities are extremely concerned about the Israeli government's decision to seize 580 acres of land in the occupied West Bank, the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the human rights group Peace Now reported that Israel had seized about 580 acres of territory in the West Bank, south of the Palestinian city of Jericho, declaring it government land.
"France is extremely concerned about the decision of the Israeli authorities to expropriate 234 hectares [580 acres] of land in the West Bank in favor of Israeli settlements," the statement reads.
The French Foreign Ministry added that the Israeli colonization is a violation of international law. Paris reiterated that the only viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to pursuit the concept of two independent states, Israel and Palestine.
Palestinians seek diplomatic and economic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. Israel has been building settlements on the occupied territories, despite objections from the United Nations.
