Brussels, 19/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - While the Israeli government approved plans on Monday 17 December for the construction of some 1,500 additional housing units in Ramat Shlomo, Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, recalled on Tuesday 18 December the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 10 December which underline that the “the European Union is deeply dismayed by and strongly opposes Israeli plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem”. Kocijancic said that the EU is “particularly concerned by the prospect of final approval for almost 4,000 units in Givat Hamatos”. On Wednesday 19 December, a Jerusalem municipal committee approved 2,610 housing units in this settlement and a meeting is planned on Thursday to approve another 1,100.
Kocijancic stressed that the EU will follow the situation closely as regards the expansion of the settlements and its wider implications, and will act accordingly, as the Council made clear (see EUROPE 10748).
The Palestinian leaders announced their intention on 17 December to go to the United Nations Security Council on the subject of the expansion of the Israeli settlements. According to diplomats, the four European states of the UN Security Council (France, United Kingdom, Germany and Poland) might prepare a resolution to condemn these projects. (CG/transl.fl)