London: France, Germany, Italy, and Britain have collectively urged Israel to stop the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. They have called for the immediate withdrawal of tenders issued this week for the construction of more than 1,200 housing units within the contentious “E1” settlement project.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the four countries released a joint statement deeming the revival of the project as “unacceptable.” They cautioned that the project could have serious implications for stability and diminish the prospects for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The statement highlighted concerns over the decision, pointing to the current tense situation in the West Bank. It noted unprecedented levels of settler violence against Palestinian civilians and severe restrictions on the Palestinian economy as key issues exacerbated by the settlement activities.

The countries emphasized the importance of halting settlement activities that threaten the viability of a two-state solution. They urged Israel to reverse its steps related to the “E1” project and to avoid any actions that could further escalate tensions in the region.