Norway deplores Israel’s expropriation of land in the West Bank

‘Israel’s expropriation of land in the West Bank is in violation of international law and is a setback for the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in the Middle East,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende. 

On Sunday 31 August, the Israeli authorities announced that Israel will expropriate an area of four square kilometres around the settlement of Etzion near Bethlehem. This will make Jerusalem even more cut off from the West Bank.

‘The expropriation of land makes the work to find a lasting two-state solution for Israel and Palestine more difficult, and I strongly urge the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision,’ said Mr Brende.