New Israeli settlement plan criticized
Israel’s plan for the construction of hundreds of new settler units in the occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem) lands has drawn international criticism.
The UN, European Union and Russia have condemned the final approval for the building of 1,600 settler units in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of East al-Quds (Jerusalem) by the Israeli interior ministry, saying the move undermines the two-state solution and efforts to resume Palestinian-Israeli talks.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Friday expressed "deep regret" over the Israeli plan, saying EU "has repeatedly called on Israel to end all settlement activity''.
"Settlement activity threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution and undermines ongoing efforts to resume negotiations," Ashton said.
Russia said it hoped that Israel reconsiders its plans, saying building more settler units would worsen an already explosive situation in the Middle East peace process.
The United Nations has also condemned Tel Aviv’s approval for the construction of 1,600 Jewish settlements and called the move a ''provocative action''.
''If confirmed, this provocative action undermines ongoing efforts by the international community to bring the parties back to negotiations,'' said Robert Serry, UN coordinator for the Middle East.
Palestinian officials have also criticized the Israeli move, which came weeks ahead of an expected Palestinian move to go to the United Nations for recognition of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with east al-Quds as its capital.
"We strongly condemn the new Israeli decision," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said.
A spokesman for the Israeli Interior Ministry, Roei Lachmanovich, however, claimed that the approval of the settlements was an "economic" matter and not a political one. He added that the ministry would approve the construction of a further 2,700 settler units in the near future.
Source: presstv.ir
