Germany's major political parties reached an agreement on Friday to implement a debt reform plan, which will substantially boost national defense expenditure.
The plan was put forward by Germany's conservative Union bloc of CDU and CSU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) during their talks to form a new coalition government.
On Friday, a compromise was reached with the Green Party, whose essential support is needed to secure a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, for amending the constitutional debt brake policy.
The constitutional debt brake was introduced in 2009 to limit the country's budget deficit.
Germany's debt reform plan proposes to lift the debt brake's restrictions on defense spending above one percent of gross domestic product (GDP), facilitating the enhancement of the nation's defense capabilities.
The plan also involves setting up a 500-billion-euro debt-financed fund for infrastructure construction in transportation network and power grid.
The package will be submitted to the Bundestag for approval on March 18.
Major German parties reach consensus on debt reform plan
Israel has been ratcheting up the number of settlements and annexation of the occupied West Bank and transferring its own population into the territory which constitutes a breach of international law, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office.
Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesman for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, presented a report by the UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday that outlined the ongoing transfer of powers over the Occupied Palestinian Territory from the Israeli military to the government.
According to the report, based on research between Nov 1, 2023 and Oct 31, 2024, there had been a "significant" expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
"The Government of Israel has been increasing the number of settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, transferring its own population into the territory and unlawfully demolishing Palestinian homes. At the same time settler violence has increased with continued impunity," said Al-Kheetan.
The report also refers to plans to construct over 20,000 housing units in new or existing Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem alone, according to Israeli non-governmental organizations.
In East Jerusalem, 214 Palestinian properties and structures have been demolished. Over 10,300 units within existing Israeli settlements in the rest of the West Bank are in the pipeline, and an unprecedented 49 new Israeli outposts have been established, according to the report.
"The Israeli government is facilitating the advancement of settlements in the West Bank, and the steady integration of this occupied territory into the State of Israel, the report finds. Israel's settlement policy, its acts of annexation, and related discriminatory legislation and measures are in breach of international law, and violate Palestinians' right to self-determination," said Al-Kheetan.
The spokesman added that the transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime.
Israel expands illegal settlements, annexation of West Bank: UN report
