Wang urges Israel to reverse West Bank settlement activity

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Israel to stop and reverse the forcible establishment of settlements in the West Bank, according to China’s Foreign Ministry, during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Baku on October 15. The ministry’s account said Wang also called opening access to the Gaza Strip an immediate priority, warning that the humanitarian crisis should not spread. He reaffirmed China’s support for a two-state solution and said Beijing was willing to work with the international community to bring the parties back to dialogue and seek a political settlement. The meeting took place in Azerbaijan on the sidelines of a regional summit, according to the ministry’s readout. The remarks were reported through that official account; the supplied material does not include a full transcript of the exchange. Herzog said Israel wanted peace but faced security threats that required a strong response. He also said Israel valued China’s initiatives and wanted to maintain communication with Beijing. In a public post about the meeting, Herzog described the discussion as focused mainly on economic relations, trade and culture, while saying he had emphasized Israel’s...