On Monday, September 14, Portugal announced its position regarding the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Paulo Rangel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, described these actions as undermining the future of a viable Palestinian state.
E1 Settlement Plan and Its Consequences
Paulo Rangel, in his statements, called Israel's E1 settlement plan "very harmful" and added that this plan would lead to the division of the West Bank and the separation of East Jerusalem. He also stated that this plan is incompatible with the two-state solution, which guarantees peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
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Economic Pressure and Financial Situation of Palestinians
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal also referred to the withholding of tax revenues from Palestinians by Israel, describing it as a "brutal circumcision" of Palestinian finances. This action, according to Rangel, hinders the economic functioning of the Palestinian government. He made these remarks after meeting with Riyad al-Maliki, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, in Lisbon.
Furthermore, Rangel pointed to the closure of Christian schools in East Jerusalem as a sign of deteriorating conditions in the area. Portugal recognized the Palestinian state last year, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of this country believes that the two-state solution is the only way to ensure peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
A few days before these statements, Israel announced that it would close the British consulate in East Jerusalem due to the plans of Britain, France, and Canada to block imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This action has increased tensions in the region and heightened concerns about the future of peace and stability in the occupied territories.
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