Taiwan says aid to Israeli settlement still under discussion

Taipei, July 22 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday that a potential donation to a medical project in an Israeli settlement is still under discussion and would be focused solely on humanitarian assistance, amid concerns it could violate international norms.

At a news briefing in Taipei, MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuangwei (蕭光偉) said discussions about the donation were still ongoing and centered solely on humanitarian and medical cooperation.

Taiwan is not involved in investment or trade activities in the area, he said.

Hsiao's comments came days after the South China Morning Post cited experts as reporting that Taiwan's pledged donation to the Nanasi Medical Center in Sha'ar Binyamin, located in the occupied West Bank north of Jerusalem, could violate international law.

The report also indicated that Taiwan could become the first foreign government to make a direct financial contribution to Israeli settlements.

The international community generally regards Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international law, a position the Israeli government disputes.

According to the spokesperson, discussions on medical cooperation in the West Bank began during a visit by Taiwan's representative to Israel, Abby Lee (李雅萍), to the Binyamin Regional Council in early July, at the invitation of Israeli lawmaker Ohad Tal.

Tal, a member of the far-right National Religious Party-Religious Zionism, also visited Taiwan in May.

While Taiwan is not a member of the World Health Organization (WHO), it continues to uphold the agency's principle of promoting public health across borders, Hsiao said.

He added that healthcare has been been a key focus of cooperation since Taiwan and Israel signed an agreement on the issue in 2006.

Taiwan hopes to offer humanitarian assistance to people worldwide who lack access to medical resources, he said, adding that this was the purpose of Lee's visit to the Israeli settlement.