SHAFAQNA (International Shia News Association)-The European Union declared in a statement on Friday that Israeli plans for new settlement units in East Jerusalem pose a threat to peace and Israel’s relations with the European Union.
“This represents a further highly detrimental step that undermines prospects for a two-state solution and calls into question Israel’s commitment to a peaceful negotiated settlement with the Palestinians,” the European Union’s External Action Service said in a statement.
“We condemn the recent Israeli decisions to approve a plan for new settlement activity in Givat Hamatos and to allow for further settlement expansion in the neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem,” according to the statement.
“We stress that the future development of relations between the EU and Israel will depend on the latter’s engagement towards a lasting peace based on a two-state solution,” the statement added.
The Israeli government has earlier declared its intention to build 2,610 new housing units in occupied Jerusalem.
“The parties’ commitment to a negotiated solution will only be credible if they refrain from unilateral actions that change the situation on the ground and threaten the viability of the two-state solution.”
The statement called on the Israeli government to urgently reverse its decisions and put an end to its settlement policy in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank.
“The EU will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.”