EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton deplored Israel’s announcement of new home construction plans in East Jerusalem neighborhoods, including Ramat Shlomo, calling on Jerusalem to end construction intended to accommodate “natural growth.”
“The EU deplores the recent settlement announcements. Any actions that could hamper or undermine the ongoing negotiations must be avoided,” she said in a statement.
“The EU has repeatedly stated that settlements are illegal under international law. It has also called on Israel to end all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.”
The Israeli announcement is largely seen in Jerusalem as a response to the controversial release of 26 Palestinian prisoners earlier this week, many of whom committed grave crimes against Israeli citizens. The release occurred in the framework of the renewal of peace talks with the Palestinians.
In Washington, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, “We do not consider continued settlement activity or East Jerusalem construction to be steps that create a positive environment for the negotiations.”
Erlier this week, Israeli officials were quotedsaying that US officials, including US Secretary of State John Kerry, were aware of the settlement expansion plans before peace talks resumed last August.