France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom urged Israel on Thursday to uphold international law and take urgent steps to protect Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, warning that a sharp escalation in illegal settler violence is destabilizing the region.
The four governments, known as the E4, condemned what they called a “massive increase” in attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, saying in a joint statement that they were “deeply alarmed” by the surge. They noted that settler assaults have reached their highest levels in nearly two decades.
Citing U.N. figures, the statement said 264 settler attacks were recorded in October, the highest monthly total since systematic monitoring began in 2006. The E4 said the violence threatens stability in the West Bank and risks fueling wider regional tensions.
The group called on the Israeli government to “abide by its obligations under international law and protect the Palestinian population of the occupied territories,” underscoring that Israeli authorities must ensure accountability for such attacks. “We urge the Government of Israel to hold those responsible to account and to prevent further violence by addressing its root causes,” the statement said.
