US: Israeli settlements not 'constructive'

[Scurrilous]

After Jewish state legalizes 190 housing units in Shilo and approves construction of 500 more, State Department says wants to see 'comprehensive agreement that delineates borders'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4193710,00.html

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"Earlier, Israel's Civil Administration approved the construction of 505 new housing units and legalized 190 units previously built in the West Bank settlement of Shilo.

A Defense Ministry official said that any further construction would call for the government's approval and therefore they do not expect any other units to be built anytime soon. The ministry also stated that the existing housing units were not built on private lands but rather on State-owned land.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said he was not familiar with the latest approval of settlements but reiterated that the United States opposes such moves.

"We don't believe it's in any way constructive to getting both sides back to the negotiating table," Toner told reporters.

"We want to see clearly a comprehensive settlement that delineates borders and resolves many of these issues," Toner said.

The Palestinian Authority and Israeli peace activists condemned the latest settlement approval, saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is setting back the already slow diplomacy aimed at a two-state solution."

[Scurrilous]

1. EU's Ashton criticizes Israel for approval of 'illegal' settlement homes

In statement, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs says Israeli, Palestinians must refrain from 'provocative actions which undermine the prospects for continuing the dialogue.'

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"The European Union's Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton criticized on Thursday Israel's recent approval of new homes in the West Bank settlement of Shilo, adding that Israeli settlements were "illegal under international law."

On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry gave preliminary approval to a plan to build 600 new homes in Shiloh, a hardline settlement deep inside the West Bank. The move drew rebukes from the United Nations and Palestinians, and threatened to raise tensions with the United States as the prime minister prepares to head to the White House.

Referring to the decision on Thursday, a spokesperson for the EU's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Ashton said the FM was "deeply concerned by the approval on 22 February by the Israeli Civil Administration of new construction in the settlements of Shvut Rachel and Shilo as well as the retrospective approval granted for housing units already built."

"Settlements are illegal under international law. In addition the Quartet Roadmap states that Israel should not only freeze all settlement activity, but also dismantle those settlements erected since March 2001," the statement said."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/eu-s-ashton-criticizes-israel-for-approval-of-illegal-settlement-homes-1.414327

[azurnoir]

2. "unhelpful" "not constructive" bla bla bla

words do nothing Israel does not care the 29 standing ovations Netanyahu got from Congress last May speak much louder, Obama had his chance last year at the UNSC and blew it, perhaps next year or something, as things stand at present Israel has what it wantsin the US- a compliant ally