EU's Ashton "extremely concerned" about Israel's East Jerusalem housing plan

EU's Ashton "extremely concerned" about Israel's East Jerusalem housing plan

2010-11-09 21:07:55 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- European Union's (EU) Catherine Ashton on Tuesday said to be "extremely concerned" after the announcement by Israel of a plan for the construction of new housing in East Jerusalem.

"This plan contradicts the efforts by the international community to resume direct negotiations and the decision should be reversed," Ashton said, adding that settlements are illegal under international law, constituting an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible.

In addition, Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, emphasized that the EU would not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.

"If there is to be genuine peace, all final status issues must be resolved through negotiations, including the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states."

Earlier, U.S. President Barack Obama during his visit to Indonesia said "this kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotiations," regarding Israel's new housing plan.

Israel's Interior Ministry revealed on Monday its plans to establish over 1,300 new housing units in occupied east Jerusalem, as the government plans to expand the Har Homa neighborhood by 978 apartments and to build 320 new apartments in the Ramot neighborhood.

The announcement came as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is visiting the U.S. and holding meeting to resume peace talks with the Palestinians. The Israeli PM previously met with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

Har Homa is located south of Jerusalem's center region, and has been in the middle of international controversy after construction projects began in the area since the late 1990s.

Since 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, settling close to 500,000 Jews in more than 100 settlements.

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