Israel/Palestine - Situation in the West Bank

France expresses its deep concern over the violence that has taken place in the West Bank over the past several days, resulting in both Israeli and Palestinian casualties. It offers its condolences to the victims' families and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.

With the Israeli authorities' announcement that they were launching a major military operation in the West Bank, France calls on all the parties to show calm and restraint. We remind the Israeli Army of its responsibility to protect civilian populations.

At a time when ongoing settlement activity is exacerbating tensions, and with settler violence on the rise, France reaffirms its support for the two-state solution, the only option for ending the cycle of violence.