Israel Politics Israeli settlements condemned by European states
Israeli settlements condemned by European states
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Western countries have criticised an Israeli decision to accelerate settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The EU said it was "deeply concerned" by the announcement and urged Israel to reconsider. The UK, France and Germany said it would hinder efforts for peace. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu defended it as a "basic right of our people". Israel's announcement came after the Palestinians won membership of the UN cultural organisation, Unesco.
European Union policy chief Catherine Ashton called on both sides to return to the negotiating table.
"Israeli settlement activity is illegal under international law including in East Jerusalem and an obstacle to peace. We have stated this many times before," she said.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague called the Israeli move "provocative and unhelpful".
"This settlement building programme is illegal under international law and is the latest in a series of provocative and unhelpful settlement announcements," Mr Hague said.
He also criticised Israel's temporary withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, which was announced at the same time, and called for a reversal of both decisions.
French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said the proposed settlement building "is illegal in international law and is a threat to the two-state solution".
Steffen Seibert, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, said building settlements in occupied areas "hinders the goal we all must have of a two-state solution and is unjustifiable".
The US has not yet commented, but is expected to express its opposition to the move, according to reports.
"(We are) deeply disappointed by the announcement," an unnamed US official told the Reuters news agency.
(Source: BBC)
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