EU castigates Israel over its continuing settlement activities
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Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:23:20 GMT
The European Union has condemned the Israel decision to list
some Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank as
'special zones', saying the move is against the spirit of
the freeze on settlement building.
http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20091220/pirhayati20091220014440968.jpg
"The European Union expresses its disapproval of the
decision of the government of Israel on December 13 to
include settlements in the National Priority Areas program.
The decision runs counter to the spirit of the settlement
freeze," Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency,
said in a statement on Friday.
The statement added, "The move by Israel prevents the
creation of an atmosphere conducive to resuming negotiations
on a two-state solution. The European Union encourages
Israel instead to continue along the path set forth by the
moratorium.
"The European Union reiterates that settlements on occupied
land are illegal under international law."
The communities designated as 'national priority zones' will
have access to credits of $41 million (28 million euros),
which will benefit 110,000 illegal settlers.
Tel Aviv is currently under intense pressure from the
international community to halt the construction of illegal
settlements in the West Bank. Israeli settlements are widely
considered the main obstacle preventing the resumption of
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Under the 2002 Roadmap for Peace plan brokered by the United
States, the European Union, the United Nations, and Russia,
Israel has to 'dismantle settlement outposts erected since
2001 and freeze all settlement activities.'
There are currently 121 Israeli settlements and 102 Israeli
outposts built on Palestinian land occupied by Israel in
1967.
These settlements and outposts are inhabited by a population
of approximately 462,000 Israeli settlers. Some 191,000
Israelis are living in settlements around Jerusalem Al-Quds
and an additional 271,400 are spread throughout the West
Bank.
All such Jewish settlements are deemed illegal under
international law because they have been erected on occupied
lands that the Palestinians claim for a future state.
All of these illegal settlements and outposts have been
condemned by numerous United Nations Security Council
resolutions.
MP/HGL
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=114187§ionid=351020202
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