BRUSSELS--European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton warned Friday that Israeli settlements are a threat to a two-state solution in the Middle-East and urged Israel to stop all settlement activities amid reports of fresh building plans.
It has been widely reported that Israeli Housing Ministry said it had given the go-ahead for the construction of 300 new homes in settlements in East Jerusalem on Thursday.
"In the light of recent media reports about renewed plans for Israeli settlements in and around East Jerusalem, the High Representative feels compelled to reiterate the EU's long-standing position," Baroness Ashton's spokesperson said.
"Settlements are illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible. The EU has repeatedly urged the Government of Israel to immediately end all settlement activities in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem in line with its obligations."
EU foreign ministers are likely to discuss the state of the Middle East peace process when they meet in June.
-Write to Laurence Norman at Laurence.norman@dowjones.com
31 May, 2013
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Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEgzmgCutC2WZFLia0agq36JnXiiA&url=http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130531-702752.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
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