Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Kamel Amr, denounced on Friday the recent Israeli decision to construct and expand Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, and stated that this decision causes another setback to the efforts to resume the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.The Israeli decision was made Tuesday when the government of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, approved the speedy construction of more than 2000 units for Jewish settlers in occupied East Jerusalem, and in the West Bank.
The Israeli decision was made only one day after the UNESCO granted Palestine a full member status.
Amr said that this decision is a sharp blow to the efforts meant to ensure the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.
He further stated that the UNESCO vote is a diplomatic victory to the Palestinian Authority that is seeking full international recognition.
Its application for statehood recognition that was filed Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, in September, was sent to a UN committee which has 60 days to respond. The U.S. said it will use its veto power against it.
In other news, the Egyptian security forces stated that Egyptian border-guard policemen apprehended a number of African immigrants trying to infiltrate into Israel seeking work.
The sources said that the immigrants were arrested near border maker #9, 2 kilometers south of the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing. The immigrants said there were seeking work, and that each paid $1500 to smugglers in Sinai.
