New East Jerusalem Housing Plan Threatens Ties With Israel, EU Says

[Purveyor]

The strong language from the European Union echoes criticism from Germany, France and Washington.

By REUTERS \ 10/04/2014

BRUSSELS - Plans for new housing in east Jerusalem pose a threat to peace and Israel's relations with the European Union, the 28-member bloc said on Friday, joining the United States in its criticism of the decision.

The strong language from the European Union, the biggest aid donor to the Palestinians who seek statehood in territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, echoes criticism from Germany, France and Washington.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the decision to build 2,610 homes in Givat Hamatos would be the first new settlement in the east Jerusalem area for 15 years.

"This represents a further highly detrimental step that undermines prospects for a two-state solution and calls into question Israel's commitment to a peaceful negotiated settlement with the Palestinians," the European Union's External Action Service said in a statement.

"We stress that the future development of relations between the EU and Israel will depend on the latter's engagement towards a lasting peace based on a two-state solution," the EEAS said, referring to an independent and democratic Palestinian state that would exist alongside Israel.

more...

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/New-east-Jerusalem-housing-plan-threatens-ties-with-Israel-EU-says-378004

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. We should follow Sweden and recognoze the Palestinian State.

[malaise]

2. M$Greedia failed to pay attention to Obama's comments

at his meeting with Bibi the war criminal earlier this week.

-------------
No fair broker supports Israel

[Scootaloo]

3. Not just the EU...

Obama raised the development in face-to-face talks in the Oval Office on Wednesday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

"The United States is deeply concerned by reports the Israeli government has moved forward" with planning for settlements in a "sensitive area" of East Jerusalem, Earnest said.

Earnest said Israel would send a "very troubling message" by following through with the settlement project, and in noticeably blunt language said that the step was contrary to Israel's stated goal of negotiating a permanent final status agreement with the Palestinians.

"This development will only draw condemnation from the international community, [and] distance Israel from even its closest allies," Earnest said.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/10/us-sharply-criticises-israeli-settlement-plan-2014101225234373240.html

I realize it's probably too much to hope that this is more than the US trying to bluff. But still, that sort pf phrasing coming from the White House is... rather surprising.

And if it is a bluff... well, it looks like Netanyahu's used to playing poker with Uncle Sam by now.

JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back at the White House after Washington criticized Israeli plans to build thousands more settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli media reported on Thursday.

Public radio quoted Netanyahu as telling US President Barack Obama in talks in Washington Wednesday to "study the facts and details before making statements" about the settlement plan.

The approval of 2,610 new housing units in East Jerusalem drew condemnation from Washington, with White House spokesman Josh Earnest warning that the move would "distance Israel from even its closest allies."

Netanyahu told Israeli journalists after the meeting that the plans had been in the pipeline for two years.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=731678