21 Nations Condemn Israeli Settlement Plans as 'Unacceptable Violation' of International Law

Australia joins international coalition opposing E1 construction east of Jerusalem amid rising Middle East tensions

Aug 22, 2025

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Twenty-one countries and the European Union issued a joint condemnation Wednesday of Israel's approval of settlement construction plans in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, calling the decision "unacceptable and a violation of international law" that could make a two-state solution impossible.

The unprecedented coalition, including Australia, the United States' key allies and European Union members, demanded Israel immediately reverse the Higher Planning Committee's approval for the controversial settlement project.

"We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms," the foreign ministers said in a joint statement released Wednesday. The signatories included Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, along with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

The statement came as Israeli military operations intensified in Gaza City, prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres to renew urgent calls for a ceasefire amid reports that child malnutrition in the city has reached catastrophic levels of 28.5%.

Settlement Plan Threatens Two-State Solution

The international coalition specifically cited statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich indicating the E1 plan would "make a two-state solution impossible by dividing any Palestinian state and restricting Palestinian access to Jerusalem."

"This brings no benefits to the Israeli people," the foreign ministers said. "Instead, it risks undermining security and fuels further violence and instability, taking us further away from peace."

The E1 area, located between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, has long been considered a critical corridor for Palestinian territorial contiguity in any future peace agreement. Settlement construction there would effectively divide the northern and southern West Bank.

The coalition emphasized that Israel "still has an opportunity to stop the E1 plan going any further" and urged the government to "urgently retract this plan."

The foreign ministers also called on Israel to "stop settlement construction in line with UNSC Resolution 2334 and remove their restrictions on the finances of the Palestinian Authority."

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Gaza Crisis Deepens

The international condemnation comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates rapidly. UN agencies reported Wednesday that acute malnutrition among children in Gaza City has increased six-fold since March, when a ceasefire was still holding.

"Children continue to die from man-made starvation," UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinians, said in a statement. The agency has screened more than 95,000 children aged six months to five years for malnutrition across Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed.

The Israeli military announced Tuesday that the "preliminary phase" of an offensive against Gaza City had begun, focusing on Jabalya in north Gaza and Az Zaytoun in Gaza City, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Around one million people still live in Gaza City, which Israeli forces describe as a Hamas stronghold. The UN rights office warned that the city's "systematic destruction" had begun, citing more than 50 attacks on residential buildings since August 8.

Regional Tensions Escalate

The Middle East developments occurred alongside rising tensions in the South China Sea, where Australia and Vietnam reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful dispute resolution during their seventh annual Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son "expressed their shared concern regarding the situation in the South China Sea" and emphasized their "unwavering commitment to peace, security, stability, and the rule of law."

The ministers specifically highlighted "freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."

Both countries emphasized the importance of implementing the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea and noted that any Code of Conduct must accord with international law and not prejudice state rights.

Strategic Partnership Deepens

The Australia-Vietnam meeting highlighted the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024, with both sides noting the relationship "has never been stronger, with mutual strategic trust and understanding."

Wong and Son welcomed progress on cybersecurity cooperation, including signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology Cooperation. They also committed to finalizing a Digital Economy Memorandum of Understanding.

Australia committed $96.6 million in official development assistance for 2025-26 and announced a new $50 million portfolio of climate resilience activities across Mekong countries, including Vietnam.

Multilateral Cooperation

Both countries reaffirmed support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture, agreeing to work together on the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2026.

The ministers welcomed ASEAN efforts to facilitate ceasefires in regional conflicts, including between Cambodia and Thailand, and commended ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding Myanmar in line with the ASEAN Five Point Consensus.

International Law Focus

The joint condemnation of Israeli settlement plans and the Australia-Vietnam emphasis on international law in the South China Sea reflected broader international concerns about unilateral actions undermining established legal frameworks.

"Unilateral action by the Israeli government undermines our collective desire for security and prosperity in the Middle East," the 21-nation coalition stated, calling for adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 2334.

Similarly, the Australia-Vietnam statement emphasized that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea "sets out the comprehensive legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out" and that "its integrity needs to be maintained and protected."

The coordinated international responses to both Middle East and South China Sea tensions reflected growing global emphasis on multilateral solutions and adherence to international law amid escalating regional conflicts.

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