The European Union called Thursday on Israel to observe its obligations, to freeze all settlement activity and to dismantle unauthorized settlers’ outposts, an EU statement said.
The European Union expressed concern Thursday over plans by Israel to expand three West Bank settlement blocs, especially the plan to build 3,500 new housing units to link Ma’alee Adumim to Jerusalem.
The EU deplored ‘the negative impact’ of such a grand expansion at a time ‘when a genuine window of opportunity exists to re-launch the peace process.’
‘The continuation of settlement activity by Israel would be a violation of international humanitarian law. It runs counter to Israel’s commitments under the roadmap to peace plan, authored by the United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations.’ EU said in a statement.
‘Although the European Union is encouraged by the prospect of the dismantling of settlements in Gaza and parts of the West Bank, it calls on Israel to observe its obligations, to freeze all settlement activity and to dismantle outposts,’ the EU statement said.
