Statement by the Federal Foreign Office on the approval of further housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank

The Higher Planning Council of Israel's Civil Administration decided on Wednesday to approve over 750 new housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Federal Government categorically rejects this step.

Over the course of 2025, just under 30,000 new settlement units have been approved, marking a new record and thus creating grounds for great concern. Not only does settlement construction violate international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, it also makes it more difficult to achieve a negotiated two-state solution and to end Israel's occupation of the West Bank, as demanded by parties including the International Court of Justice.

The Federal Government calls on the Israeli Government to immediately halt settlement construction and strictly rejects both a formal and a de facto annexation brought about by settlement construction and other measures. The Federal Government will only recognise changes to the borders of 4 June 1967 if they have been agreed by the parties to the conflict.