In a strongly worded statement, the German Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) Deputy Chair of the Bundestag faction, Siemtje Möller and the party’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Adis Ahmetovic, have condemned the Israeli government’s announcement to build 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The pair, speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, deemed the plan a clear violation of international law, calling on Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to withdraw the plans and immediately halt the illegal construction. They emphasized that their friendship with Israel and Germany’s special responsibility due to its history are uncontestable, but that this does not excuse them from naming injustice, even if it comes from a close partner.
The recognition of illegal settlements, they said, is unacceptable, as is the continued dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. They welcomed the announcement by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to review arms deliveries to Israel.
Möller and Ahmetovic further stated that Germany, like France and many other partners, stands by the political vision of a negotiated two-state solution. The continued settlement construction, they argued, undermines this perspective, weakens the diplomatic efforts of the international community and endangers the chance of a lasting peace in the Middle East.
In a recent statement, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confirmed the decision to build the settlements, which was reportedly made at a meeting of Israel’s Security Cabinet. Already, around 500,000 settlers live in the West Bank.