Brussels, 27/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - In a report released by AFP on 27 February, the heads of the EU missions in East Jerusalem and Ramallah (West Bank) encourage the member states “to prevent financial transactions, to discourage them and to advise of their problematic consequences, including with regard to foreign direct investment, in favour of activities, infrastructure and services in the settlements”. They also call on the EU27 “to ensure the strict application of the Israel-EU association agreement, especially that products made in the settlements do not benefit from the preferential treatment” provided for by the agreement.
In addition, the heads of mission recommend “intensifying EU efforts to counter the construction of settlements in East Jerusalem and around, which constitutes a particular threat for the two-state solution”, with the EU regularly denouncing the settlements - which are illegal under international law. They see settlement construction as “systematic, deliberate and provocative”, making the compromises needed for peace increasingly difficult - compromises that the EU is gradually pursuing (our translation).
The EEAS does not want to comment. Stating that the EEAS has “no comments on the content of the leaked report”, and regretting that it had been leaked, a spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton told EUROPE that this document is an “annual report to the EU's Political and Security Committee of the situation on the ground, also making a number of recommendations for EU policy with regard to Jerusalem”. He also said that the report is intended to serve as a source of information for the EU and as an input to its policy-making process. “It should assist the EU in determining how best to achieve the objective of a two-state solution to the Middle East peace process”, the spokesperson stated.
“There have been a series of worrying developments, notably the expansion of settlements around Jerusalem towards the end of 2012 on which the EU has made its position crystal clear. The EU stated in December that it is monitoring the situation closely and will act accordingly - that is precisely what we are doing”, the spokesperson also underlined. He added that the EU maintains close relations with the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Israel blames the heads of mission. The spokesperson for the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs blamed the heads of mission, saying that “the mission of a diplomat is to build bridges and not to encourage confrontation. These consuls have therefore failed in their diplomatic mission”. (CG/transl.fl)