BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday welcomed a series of recent statements from major European countries warning their citizens from doing business in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.

The ministry said that the warnings -- which were issued by the governments of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, and the Netherlands earlier on -- reflected a commitment to the universality of human rights.

The statements warned citizens of those countries from engaging in commercial affairs with Israeli settlements not only in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, but also in the Syrian Golan Heights.
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The ministry noted that the warnings are consistent with the European Union's "long-standing position" vis-a-vis the settlements, and in line with the UN interpretations of international law which supports "the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination."