Brussels, 03/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 2 December, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton called on the Israeli government, “to show its commitment to the early renewal of negotiations to end the conflict and the occupation by not taking forward these plans” to build 3,000 new homes in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Ashton pointed out that, “all settlement construction is illegal under international law and constitutes an obstacle to peace”. She added, “I am therefore extremely worried by the prospects of settlement expansion on such a scale”.
Ashton once again urged Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas to work towards resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as she had done on 29 October, on behalf of the 27 member states of the EU, upstream to the vote on recognising Palestine's status at the United Nations as an observer and explained that she had “urged both parties to work towards the resumption of direct negotiations without delay or preconditions. I called on all involved to pursue actions which could build confidence, not undermine it”. Ashton is in permanent contact with member states and international partners, and the Middle East peace process will be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 10 December, explained the European External Action Service.
A Fatal Blow to Peace?
In a press release, the spokesperson for Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general of the United Nations underlined that the settlements are illegal under international law and if this project is put into practice, it will deliver an almost fatal blow to the final remaining chances of guaranteeing a two state solution. He said that in the interest of peace, this project should be cancelled.
Several European countries have expressed their concerns about the Israeli decision. France and the United Kingdom invited their respective Israeli ambassadors to meetings and, according to the newspaper Haaretz, are planning to withdraw their ambassadors from Israel, to protest against this decision. The British foreign minister, William Hague, explained that the United Kingdom was strongly advising the Israeli government to withdraw its decision, adding that, “If implemented, these plans would alter the situation on the ground on a scale that makes the two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, increasingly difficult to achieve. They would undermine Israel's international reputation and create doubts about its stated commitment to achieving peace with the Palestinians.”
His French counterpart, Laurent Fabius, called on the Israeli authorities to refrain from making any decision in this direction and clearly demonstrate their willingness to resume negotiations. He added that if this decision were confirmed, it could prove serious because it would constitute a serious obstacle to the two state solution by damaging the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state. It would undermine the confidence necessary to resume dialogue.
Agreeing with the “spirit” of the declaration made by the High Representative, the Belgian Foreign Minister, Didier Reynders, reiterated his appeal for the swift and unconditional resumption of negotiations. He urged Israel and the Palestinian authority to refrain from any unilateral action that could undermine the credibility of the peace process. His German counterpart Guido Westerwelle concurred with this message.
Settlements not the sole issue
The political adviser to the Israeli Mission to the EU, Yoel Mester, told EUROPE that putting an exaggerated focus on the single issue of Jewish settlements, risks diverting the attention from the other, no less important, core issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The settlements are only one of the issues to be dealt with by the parties in direct negotiations. Israel has in the past demonstrated its willingness to take bold steps in order to advance peace with its neighbours, including making painful concessions, he added.
Israel stated its intention on 30 November to build 3,000 new homes in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. The announcement came in the wake of the vote in the United Nations General Assembly granting Palestine the status of non-member observer state. (CG/transl.fl)