EU ‘deplores’ new Israeli settlement plans

Published October 31, 2013
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urges Israel to end all settlement activity.—File photo
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urges Israel to end all settlement activity.—File photo

BRUSSELS: The European Union on Thursday said it “deplores” Israel's decision to build new settler homes in East Jerusalem, recalling that settlements were illegal under international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday agreed plans to build 1,500 new settler homes in the city's Arab sector, a move the Palestinians said “destroys the peace process”.

“I would like to recall that, on 27 September, the Middle East Quartet called on all parties to refrain from actions that undermine trust or prejudge final status issues,” EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.

“The EU has repeatedly stated that settlements are illegal under international law. It has also called on Israel to end all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.

“The EU deplores the recent settlement announcements. Any actions that could hamper or undermine the on-going negotiations must be avoided,” Ashton said. “Bold and decisive leadership is needed for these negotiations to succeed.”

A spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeina, said the move “is a message to the international community that Israel is a country that does not respect international law”.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.