E4 foreign ministers condemn surge in West Bank settler violence, urge Israel to protect Palestinians

PARIS - France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy on Thursday condemned what they called a "massive increase" in Israeli settler violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank, warning that the escalation is destabilising the territory and undermining efforts to restore regional security.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the four countries, often referred to as the E4, cited United Nations data showing a sharp rise in incidents in recent weeks. Figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded 264 settler attacks in October, the highest monthly total since the UN began tracking such cases in 2006.

"These attacks must stop," the ministers said, adding that the violence "sows terror among civilians" and threatens not only ongoing peace efforts but also "the lasting security of the State of Israel itself". They urged the Israeli government to meet its obligations under international law to protect Palestinians in the occupied territories, saying public condemnations by Israeli leaders "must be translated into action".

The ministers urged Israel to ensure accountability for perpetrators and to prevent further violence by addressing its "root causes". They also renewed their opposition to any form of annexation, "partial, total or de facto," and criticised settlement policies they said violate international law.

Warning that further weakening of the Palestinian Authority would harm prospects for governance in Gaza, the ministers reaffirmed their support for a negotiated two-state solution.