‘Foreign governments will not restrict us’: Israel rejects 14-nation call to reverse West Bank settlement approvals

Israel rejected a joint appeal by 14 countries urging reversal of its approval for 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling the criticism interference and discriminatory. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the settlements were approved for security reasons and are on land Israel considers state land, dismissing claims of international law violations. The 14 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and Japan, condemned the move as escalating settlement policy and risking regional destabilization.