The European Union and White House issued separate statements denouncing the new Israeli plan, declared Sunday, when Israel approved hundreds of units for Israeli settlers in occupied East Jerusalem, and the occupied West Bank.High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European Union, Catherine Ashton, stated that the EU strongly believes that Israel’s settlements in occupied Palestine are illegal, and violate International Law.
Ashton added that settlement pose serious threats to the efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israel conflict and the two-state solution, especially amidst the recently renewed direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian.
U.S. Foreign Secretary Spokesperson, Jennifer Psaki, stated that Washington is extremely concerned about the Israeli decision, and Israel ongoing settlement construction activities.
Psaky added that the position of her country has never changed, as the United States does not recognize settlements because they are illegitimate.
U.S. Foreign Secretary, John Kerry, also denounced the Israeli decision, and added that he informed Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli negotiator, Tzipi Livni, that the United States considers settlements illegal.
The Unites States grants Israel about six billion dollars annually in direct and indirect aid.
The statements came after Israel officially approved the construction of 1200 units in illegal settlements build in the occupied West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem.
Settlements are illegal under International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
Israel’s illegal settlements, and its Apartheid Wall have turned the Palestinian areas into isolated ghettoes, separating the villagers from their lands, or what is left of them, and diminished the chances of establishing a future contiguous and independent Palestinian State.
