We are gravely concerned about the continuation of Israel’s settlement policy, particularly about the large number of permits issued retroactively for settlement units and outposts that are themselves illegal under Israeli law. The German Government regards the expansion of settlements in the occupied territories in violation of international law as a serious threat to the two-state solution.

The latest report by the Middle East Quartet also made this very clear. We expect both parties to take the recommendations made in this report seriously. And we expect Israel to change its policies in the occupied territories and to enable Palestinian development.