EU calls Israel to 'reverse' new settlement decisions

Source:Xinhua Published: 2014-4-19 10:13:29

The European Union (EU) condemned Israel over new settlement expansion plan and called Israel to "reverse" the decisions, EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's spokeperson said on Friday.

Israel's new steps in West Bank "are not conducive to the climate of trust and cooperation needed for the current peace negotiations to succeed," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Recently, the Israeli Defence Ministry has declared one square kilometer area in the Gush Etzion block of settlements in the West Bank as "state land", and has authorized a new settlement in the old city of Hebron.

These movements in West Bank results in "demolitions of Palestinian property and displacement of vulnerable populations", the spokesperson added.

Ashton "deplores in particular" the destruction of EU-funded humanitarian projects in Jabal Al Baba, where humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians.

Israeli authority started to dismantle the area's humanitarian shelters from April 8 to make room for settlements.

"The EU calls on the Israeli authorities to reverse these decisions," the spokesperson said," and to refrain from any steps which could undermine trust and threaten these negotiations."



Posted in: Mid-East

blog comments powered by Disqus