EU berates Israel's bill to legalize settlements in West Bank

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday decried the newly-adopted Israeli bill which legalizes settlements built on Palestinian land in the West Bank, warning that the bill "crosses a dangerous threshold".

"This law crosses a new and dangerous threshold by legalizing under Israeli law the seizure of Palestinian property rights and effectively authorizing the confiscation of privately owned Palestinian land in occupied territory," Mogherini said in a statement.

She lashed out at Israel's parliament for legislating on the legal status of land within occupied territory, stressing that it's an issue beyond the parliament's jurisdiction.

"Should it be implemented, the law would further entrench a one-state reality of unequal rights, perpetual occupation and conflict," she warned.

"The EU urges the Israeli leadership to refrain from implementing the law and to avoid measures that further raise tensions and endanger the prospects for a peaceful solution to the conflict," she added.

Israel's parliament on Monday passed a controversial law to retroactively legalize wildcat Jewish outposts built on private Palestinian lands, despite international condemnations and warnings that the law is unconstitutional.

In a late-night session, the parliament approved the so-called "Regulation Bill" in a 60-52 vote.

Under the new legislation, about 3,850 housing units in dozens of outposts built illegally on privately owned Palestinian lands would be retroactively legalized.

The State of Israel would seize the lands, offering compensations or alternative land to the landowners, even if they do not agree to waive their property. Endit