Hague, Ashton Condemn Israeli Expansion in Judea and Samaria
June 8, 2012
British Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned on Friday Israel’s plans to build hundreds of new homes in Judea and Samaria (Yehuda and Shomron), The Press Association reported.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office in London Hague said, “I condemn the announcement by Israel to authorize the building of 851 new settlement units across the West Bank.”
He added, “While we appreciate the Israeli government’s efforts to avoid damaging legislation in the Israeli Knesset by voting against a bill to legalize West Bank outposts, the decision to move settlers from an illegal outpost by creating housing units in settlements elsewhere across the Green Line sets a dangerous precedent.
“Such outposts are illegal under both Israeli and international law and should be removed entirely,” said Hague.
“The British Government, and our EU partners, have made it consistently clear that settlement construction is illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and should stop immediately, in line with Israel’s own commitment under the 2003 road map,” he said.
“Continued systematic settlement activity, and repeated breaches by the Israeli government of international law, is provocative, undermines the prospects of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and makes the two-state solution ever harder to realize. It makes it increasingly difficult for Israel’s international friends to defend the Israeli government’s actions.”
Hague urged “the Israeli government to change its approach, to meet its international obligations fully and for both sides to engage constructively in the search for peace.”
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, also condemned Israel, saying in a statement, “I deplore Israeli Government plans to build over 800 additional settlement housing units as well as the plan to relocate some of the settlers from Ulpana within the occupied Palestinian territory.
“Settlements are illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible. Settlement activity is detrimental to current peace efforts, including by the Quartet, and puts those efforts at risk,” she added.
“I call on the Israeli Government to exercise the highest sense of responsibility by reversing these decisions to demonstrate its commitment toward the peace process, in full respect of international law.”
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced in a special statement that the Beit El will be expanded and that 300 new homes will be added to the community.
Housing Minister Ariel Atias later announced his ministry will market land for the purpose of building 551 new housing units in Judea and Samaria, in addition to the 300 homes in Beit El.
The United States condemned Israel for the construction, with U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner saying, “We’re very clear that continued Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank undermines peace efforts and contradicts Israeli commitments and obligations, including the 2003 road map”.
Toner told reporters, “Our position on settlements remains unchanged. We do not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity.”
France also condemned the Netanyahu government’s decision. The French Foreign Ministry said that said some of the planned construction was “far inside the Palestinian side of the 1967 borders, which have been agreed as a benchmark by the International community for negotiations on a future delineation accord between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Similar posts
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...
-
Women's Empowerment in Israel
December 15, 2023In recent decades, Israel has witnessed a remarkable evolution in the status and empowerment of wom...