Oman welcomes statement by 11 European countries and Canada rejecting settlement expansion policies in occupied Palestine

Muscat, Sept 8 (KUNA) -- Oman expressed its welcome today, Tuesday, for the joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of 11 European countries and Canada, regarding the rejection of Israeli policies of settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories and the adoption of measures to prevent trade linked to illegal settlements under international law. The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the Sultanate reaffirmed that the continuation of Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories constitutes “a violation of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy, and that the international community must take a firm stand to prevent and remove any obstacles hindering the achievement of the Palestinian state’s full independence and its legitimate project on the June 4, 1967 borders, in pursuit of a just and comprehensive peace.” It added that Oman appeals to the international community to take further practical and effective steps to deter Israeli settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories and to ensure respect for international law and international humanitarian law, and to prevent the continuation of measures aimed at altering the demographic and geographical reality of the State of Palestine and the rights of the Palestinian people on their land. Earlier today, in a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Canada and 11 European countries—the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, and Poland—rejected Israeli policies of settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories and called for steps to prevent trade linked to illegal settlements under international law. (End) M.J.B. / M.A.A.