Press Releases

1. The Government of Israel has recently approved plans for the construction of about 5,000 housing units in settlements in the West Bank. The Government of Japan deeply deplores the continued settlement activities by the Government of Israel despite repeated calls from the international community including Japan for freeze of such activities.

2. Settlement activities are in violation of international law and Japan has repeatedly called upon the Government of Israel to completely freeze settlement activities. This action by the Government of Israel runs counter to the efforts to provide momentum toward easing tensions and stabilizing the region including a series of agreements to normalize relations between the State of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Kingdom of Bahrain.

3. The Government of Japan once again strongly urges the Government of Israel to totally freeze its settlement activities including implementing the construction plans that are undermining the viability of a two-state solution.