State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was “deeply concerned” by the reports and American embassy officials were having high-level talks with Israeli leaders to seek more information.
“We continue to make our position absolutely clear that we view settlement activity as illegitimate and unequivocally oppose unilateral steps that prejudge the future of Jerusalem,” Psaki told reporters.
“Israel’s leaders have said they would support a pathway to a two-state solution, but moving forward with this type of action would be incompatible with the pursuit of peace,” she added. Jordan on Monday requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss the plans to build more Jewish settlements, diplomats said.
The request followed a letter from Palestinian representative to the United Nations Riyadh Mansour calling for a urgent meeting to "address this crisis situation in occupied east Jerusalem."
Jordan, a Security Council member, put forward the request late Monday and was awaiting a response from Argentina, which chairs the 15-member council, on setting a date.
Diplomats told AFP the meeting was unlikely to be held on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Washington repeatedly condemns moves to build Jewish settlements either in the West Bank or east Jerusalem. The city is claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians as their future capital in any peace treaty.
But the U.S. fails to back its words with any threatened consequences against Israel, and remains the country’s staunchest ally.
“Ties between us are unshakable,” Psaki reiterated.
“There are times when we disagree with actions of the Israeli government, including... the issue of settlements, where we have deep concerns about some of the steps the government is taking,” she said.
“We expressed those, but it does not mean that we don’t have a strong and formidable relationship that continues.”
Israel seized east Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community.
alarabiya.net
28/10/14
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Statement by High Representative Federica Mogherini on the latest Israeli announcement on settlements ...
ReplyDelete"The approval of the construction of 500 new housing units in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ramat Shlomo decided by the Israeli Interior Ministry's District Committee for Planning and Construction in Jerusalem risks to jeopardize the on-going efforts to resume a diplomatic process. The international community, starting from the EU, is engaged in providing assistance for the rehabilitation of Gaza and help the parties to restart a peace process, but this decision represents yet another highly detrimental step which undermines the prospects for a two-state solution and seriously calls into question Israel's commitment to a peaceful negotiated settlement with the Palestinians.
Since the pleas by the EU, by its Member States and by many other members of the international community on the issue of Israeli settlements have remained unheard, I call on the Israeli authorities to reverse it and put an end to its settlement policy in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank."
http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2014/141105_01_en.htm
5/11/14