EU criticizes Israel's latest West Bank settlement measures

The European Union (EU) on Friday voiced concern over Israel's recent decisions to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning that the moves would further undermine the viability of a two-state solution.

In a statement, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said Israel's approval of significant new funding for settlement expansion would further entrench settlements in sensitive areas of the West Bank while increasing the fragmentation and isolation of Palestinian communities, leaving them exposed to greater risks of human rights violations.

The statement also reiterated the EU's non-recognition of Israel's decision to grant municipal status to the West Bank settlement of Givat Ze'ev.

The bloc reaffirmed its long-standing position of not recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the territories occupied since June 1967, in line with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The statement called on Israel to refrain from further settlement expansion, the legalization of outposts, land appropriation, demolitions, evictions and other unilateral measures that, it said, undermine the viability of the two-state solution.

U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 406.55 points, or 0.77 percent, to 52,146.42. The Standard and Poor's 500 sank 76.08 points, or 1.01 percent, to 7,457.69. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 361.7 points, or 1.40 percent, to 25,520.24.

Ten of the 11 primary Standard and Poor's 500 sectors ended in red, with communication services and consumer discretionary leading the laggards by going down 2.38 percent and 1.58 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy bucked the trend by going up 1.16 percent.