Brussels, 31/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 31 October, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton regretted the announcement by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and Israel's Ministry of the Interior about renewed plans for settlements. “Any actions that could hamper or undermine the ongoing negotiations must be avoided”, Ashton said in a press release. “Bold and decisive leadership is needed for these [peace] negotiations to succeed”, she added, stating that the EU will continue to support the process.
The EU has repeatedly stated that settlements are illegal under international law, Ashton stated, reiterating that the EU has called on Israel to end all settlement activity, “including natural growth”, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.
Ashton also underlined the Middle East Quartet's call to Israelis and Palestinians on 27 September “to refrain from actions that undermine trust or prejudge final status issues” (see EUROPE 10932).
On 30 September, the Israeli government announced the construction of 1,500 homes in a settlement at Ramat Shlomo and a project for another 2,000 homes in other settlements in the West Bank - just a few hours after releasing 26 Palestinian prisoners as part of the peace negotiations. (CG/transl.fl)