EU urges Israel to rethink settlement plans

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STOCKHOLM — The European Union on Saturday urged Israel to scrap plans to build new Jewish settlements in the West Bank, saying that would boost chances of fresh peace talks with the Palestinians.

"The negotiations with Israel have not finished and we have some weeks to go. I hope very much that we'll be able to get a change of that position" on Israeli settlements during the UN general assembly in New York next month, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said.

"We are very disappointed by some of the statements referred to in the last hours," said Solana, speaking in Stockholm at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers.

"I hope very much that (Israel's plan) will not be realised," he added.

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