EU bashes Israel's controversial bill to legalize outposts in West Bank

The European Union (EU) on Thursday said the bloc was opposed to an Israeli bill which aims to legalize Jewish settlements and outposts in the West Bank.

If passed by Israel's parliament, the bill would be the first Israeli law adopted on the status of land in the West Bank, a spokesperson of the European Union External Action Service (EEAS) noted in a statement.

"Settlements are illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace, and threaten to make the two-state solution impossible," the spokesperson said. "The EU reiterates its strong opposition, in line with the position of the Middle East Quartet, to Israel's settlement policy and all actions taken in this context."

Israel's parliament on Wednesday gave its approval of a controversial bill to legalize dozens of Jewish outposts in the West Bank.

The 58-to-51 vote was the first reading out of three rounds of votes necessary before the final approval of the bill.

The so-called Regulation Law aims at legalizing dozens of outposts which far-right Israelis constructed in the West Bank over the past 20 years. The outposts are currently illegal under both Israeli and international law.

Under the bill, Israel could expropriate private Palestinian land and allow settlers to remain in homes that were built there.

The Palestinian owners would receive financial compensation.

Israel captured the West Bank in 1967, and almost immediately after, it began settling land with Jews.

The international community never recognized the settlements and Israel's policy of populating the West Bank with Israeli Jews is subject to constant international criticism.

It was estimated that around 350,000 Israelis lived in over 200 settlements and outposts in the West Bank in 2013, according to an Israeli human rights organization.

Nevertheless, Israel has never openly annexed the West Bank and has not applied its legislation there. Endit