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US, France, Britain tell Israel:
Settlement expansion ‘sets back’ peace bid
US: The United States criticized Israel's decision to build 3,000
settler homes in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, with Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton calling it a setback for peace.
The White House earlier called the move -- which came in response to
a historic vote in the UN General Assembly on Thursday to recognize
Palestine within the 1967 borders as a non-member observer state --
“counterproductive.” “In light of today's announcement, let me reiterate
that this administration -- like previous administrations -- has been
very clear with Israel that these activities set back the cause of a
negotiated peace,” Clinton said.
She was speaking at a forum in Washington hosted by the Saban Center
for Middle East Policy, to an audience that included Israeli Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. “The most
lasting solution to the stalemate in Gaza would be a comprehensive peace
between Israel and all Palestinians, led by their legitimate
representative, the Palestinian Authority,” Clinton said.
Meanwhile, France also warned Israel not to go through with a plan
for 3,000 settlements in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem,
arguing it would constitute a serious obstacle to a peace deal with the
Palestinians.
An Israeli official earlier confirmed a report in the Haaretz
newspaper that the authorities were planning to build the new
settlements in response to a historic UN vote Thursday recognising
Palestine as a non-member state of the world body. “I call on Israeli
authorities to refrain from any decision to that effect and to clearly
show their willingness to restart (peace) negotiations,” said Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius.
“If confirmed, this decision... would create a serious obstacle to a
two-state solution, by undermining the territorial contiguity of a
future Palestinian state,” Fabius said.“It would take away the trust
needed to resume dialogue,” he added.
Britain urged Israel to reverse its decision to build 3,000 settler
homes in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, saying the plans would
undermine peace efforts. Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was
“extremely concerned” by the move, which came in response to a historic
UN vote to recognise Palestine as a non-member observer state.
AFP |
