EU 'Regrets' Israeli Settlement Plan
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The European Union's foreign policy chief on Thursday criticized Israel's plan to build hundreds of homes in annexed east Jerusalem and called for it to hold fresh talks with the Palestinians.
Catherine Ashton "deeply regrets" the Israeli interior ministry decision to back the expansion of the Gilo settlement by 797 units, said a statement from her office.
"Settlements are illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible," said the statement, which repeated the EU's call for an end to settlements, both in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem.
Talks "continue to represent the best way forward in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," it added.
"Continuous expansion of settlements makes this all the more difficult."
Israel's interior ministry granted final approval for the plans on Thursday.
The move will mean the westward expansion of Gilo, which is on the southern flanks of east Jerusalem, very close to the West Bank town of Bethlehem.
"Israel's decision to build 800 housing units is part of an overall Israeli plan which aims to destroy the two-state solution," negotiator Saeb Erakat told Agence France Presse on Thursday.
The only answer was for the international community to back Palestinian plans to seek upgraded U.N. status, he added.
A resolution to that effect is to be put to the U.N. General Assembly in November.
Israel considers both west and east Jerusalem to be its "eternal, indivisible" capital, and does not view construction in the eastern sector as settlement activity.
The Palestinians, however, believe east Jerusalem should be the capital of their future state and are fiercely opposed to the extension of Israeli control over the sector.
20 October 2012, 10:56
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Catherine Ashton "deeply regrets" the Israeli interior ministry decision to back the expansion of the Gilo settlement by 797 units,Settlements are illegal under international law"
All what Ms. Ashton can do is to "regret"!!! Waw what a dramatic statement in regard to another flagrant breach of International law.
20 October 2012, 10:58
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It's alright for the EU to complain about Israeli policy in the west Bank, but where is Baroness Ashton living?
Why isn't she pressuring the PA and Abu Mazen to re-open talks with Israel, instead of just saying that Israel should hold fresh talks with them.
Doesn't she realise, or want to understand, that it was the PA that broke off the talks not Israel, and any pressure should be brought on the PA.
20 October 2012, 11:24
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"A woman was raped by police officers in Tunisia, and then charged with public indecency"; Phillipo your logic is exactly the same: you want the international community to put pressure on the PA to resume talks that they had stopped BECAUSE of the non stop expansion by Israel of the settlements and in total breach of international law. Moral of the story: Punish the victim and reward the rapist.
20 October 2012, 11:26
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Oh, please, can't you stay away from using very tough and strong words such as "regrets" when it comes to the chosen people? Nobody, as bad as they might be, and especially the victims and God's only chosen people deserve to be spoken to in this tough manner. I hope you take it back. The Palestinians, the entire humane world and especially God's only chosen people will appreciate easing up such language. After all, why can't we all be respectful and nice to one another? Be an example!
20 October 2012, 12:35
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Regret is not enough imagine if Israel wanted to build new homes on German or on European soil how Europe would react? It is a shame not to have the power to stop illegal settlements in Palestine.
20 October 2012, 13:31
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Before igniting the area, did any one check how many Arabs from Jerusalem purchased apartments and living the Gilo district ?
Its same as the calls to boycott the settlements product, its so funny ad most of the workers are Palestinian whom are feeding their families not from donations but from work. there is no problem bashing settlements and its products but did the Palestinian authority or the Arab countries around really supporting the Palestinian authority and its people ? except from incitement and supply of arms and ammunition they done nothing. Go check what was the growth in Palestinian territories under Israeli occupation, you will find that the growth is more than 7 pct last year. more than in any other Arabian country.
