Strasbourg, 07/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 6 February, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton urged the Israeli authorities to reconsider their plans and to backtrack on their decision to approve building permission for 558 new homes in East Jerusalem, Har Homa, Neve Yaakov and Pisgat Zeev. “These plans could put at risk the prospects of Jerusalem becoming the capital of two states and, in particular, the territorial contiguity between East Jerusalem and the southern West Bank”, Ashton stated.
Ashton recalled that the international community, including the EU, has repeatedly warned that any unilateral action prejudging the final status of Jerusalem threatens the current peace negotiations and, as a consequence; the two-state solution. “Any such developments must be avoided at all costs”, she said.
On 5 February, the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem approved several plans for a total of 558 new homes - 386 in Har Homa, 136 in Neve Yaakov, and 36 in Pisgat Zeev. (CG/transl.fl)