Egypt has strongly condemned the recent announcement by the Israeli Finance Minister regarding the approval for the construction of 3,400 settlement units around occupied Jerusalem. This decision marks yet another step in the Israeli government’s persistent efforts to expand its territorial claims and alter the demographic makeup of the occupied territories, representing a blatant violation of international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt denounced the extreme comments made by the Israeli minister advocating for the imposition of Israeli sovereignty and further settlement expansion in the West Bank. This reflects a disturbing trend of Israeli arrogance that does not contribute to peace or stability in the region, including for Israel itself, as long as the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people remain unaddressed.
Egypt firmly rejected these settlement policies and the objectionable remarks produced by Israeli officials, which incite feelings of hatred, extremism, and violence. The Egyptian government reiterated its warning to Israel about the dangers of succumbing to illusory beliefs aimed at erasing the Palestinian cause and establishing what is termed “Greater Israel,” a concept that is unacceptable and should not be allowed to manifest.
Furthermore, Egypt emphasized that these Israeli expansionist trends starkly contradict the ongoing regional and international efforts directed towards establishing a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East among all peoples in the area. Any attempt to eliminate the Palestinian issue through schemes of displacement, land confiscation, and settlement construction will ultimately result in futile endeavors.
Lastly, Egypt reaffirmed that there is no alternative to implementing the two-state solution and establishing a Palestinian state in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, as a means to achieve peace and security in the Middle East. Israel’s continued embrace of policies that reject the peace option and its insistence on extreme measures is a primary source of instability in the region.