Brussels, 05/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Union summoned the ambassador of Israel on Thursday regarding the proposed new settlements, announced Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. The objective of this meeting is “to set out the depth of our concerns” to him regarding these plans to enlarge Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories, she said on Wednesday 5 December, AFP reports. The Israeli mission to the EU and Kocijancic confirmed to EUROPE that the meeting will take place this Thursday. Five European states (France, United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark and Sweden) have already summoned the Israeli ambassadors on their territory.
According to Reuters, the ambassadors of the 27 with responsibility for security issues on Tuesday discussed a joint European response to plans to expand the Israeli settlements. Differences of opinion are believed to persist between the member states. They will discuss the issue once again on Friday 7 December, ahead of the Foreign AffairsCouncil on Monday 10 December.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague told his parliament that the European countries were planning other measures if Israel refused to cancel its plans, whilst recognising that EU economic sanctions against Israel were unlikely. There is little enthusiasm among the Europeans for this, he said.
On Sunday, Ashton asked the Israel to reconsider its plans to build 3,000 new homes (see EUROPE 10743). This request clearly failed to have any effect as Israel has since then announced plans for further settlements. On Wednesday, a controversial construction project which, if completed, would cut the West Bank in two and isolate Jerusalem, received the approval of a committee of the Israeli Ministry of Defence. According to the Palestinian negotiator Saëb Erakat, the completion of this project would put an end to the peace process and the Palestinian and Israeli two-State solution. (CG/transl.fl)