Brussels, 09/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton expressed her deep regrets, on Thursday 8 November, regarding the publication of tenders for over 1,213 new housing units in the settlements of Ramot and Pisgat Ze'ev in East Jerusalem and 72 in Ariel, in the West Bank, according to a press release from her spokesman. “Continuous expansion of settlements, wherever this takes place, further complicates ongoing diplomatic efforts to avoid a deterioration in the prospects for a return to negotiations at this critical time”, the spokesman said, underlining that settlements are “illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible. The EU has repeatedly urged the government of Israel to immediately end all settlement activities in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, in line with its obligations under the roadmap”.
“Unilateral action by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognised by the European Union”, he added, pointing out that the EU has always said that negotiation is the best course of action for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
French and British do not approve. The day before, Britain's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Alistair Burt and the French Foreign Ministry condemned the publication of tenders, describing it as “a provocative decision”. Burt said “it is deeply disappointing that the government of Israel continues to ignore the appeals of the UK and other friends of Israel”. He said that Israeli settlements are making the two-state solution increasingly difficult to achieve. France reiterated its very great concern that such an announcement had been made in a context that was already tense, saying that settlements have an adverse impact on restoring trust between the parties. France insists on the importance of there being an end to settlement. (CG/transl.jl)