Wednesday, November 2, 2011

US, EU deeply concerned with Israel on settlements

The United States is expected to voice deep disappointment at Israel's speeding up settlement building following UNESCO's decision to grant full membership to the Palestinians, a US official said today. The European Union had already expressed deep concern about Israel's decision today.

"(We are) deeply disappointed by the announcement," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to Israel's decision to accelerate construction of some 2,000 housing units in eastern Jerusalem and on the West Bank.

"We continue to make our opposition clear to the (Israeli) government (that) unilateral actions such as these work against efforts to resume direct negotiations and do not advance the goal of a reasonable and necessary agreement between the parties," the official added.

Acting after the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted on Monday to accept the Palestinians as full members, Israel also decided temporarily to halt transfers of revenues that it collects for the Palestinians.

The European Union expressed serious worries over Israel's move. "I am deeply concerned by the latest Israeli decisions," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement, adding that settlement building was against international law.

"We call on Israel to reverse this decision and call on both sides to continue their engagement with the Quartet on advancing peace efforts," Ashton said, referring to the group of Middle East peace brokers.