Brussels, 19/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU is “dismayed by the recent decision (by Israel) on the expansion of the settlement of Gilo”, near Jerusalem. This move, say observers on the ground, will cut off the Jerusalem area from the rest of the West Bank, thereby unilaterally breaking all territorial continuity and threatening to compromise the status of East Jerusalem. The EU points out that it “has never recognised the annexation of East Jerusalem” by Israel in 1967 and 1980.
In a statement published by the Swedish Presidency on Wednesday, the EU says that “settlement activities, house demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem are illegal under international law”. The Israeli decision, the EU says, contravenes repeated calls by the international community, including the Quartet, and runs counter to the creation of an atmosphere conducive to achieving a viable and credible solution to the conflict. “If there is to be genuine peace, a way must be found to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states,” the statement says.
The US president has also given his reaction to the decision, which he qualifies as potentially “very dangerous”. (F.B./transl.rt)