Israel will never stop its settlement constructions in occupied East Beit ul-Muqaddas (Jerusalem), according to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
“One thing should be clear: we will never accept the definition of building in Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem as settlement activity,” Lieberman told a news conference. “We won’t accept any limitation on building in Jewish areas of [East] Jerusalem.”
Lieberman’s comments come just four days after Israel approved plans to construct some 200 homes in Ramot, despite clashes in the region prompted by settlement expansion, the RT reported.
Washington responded to the news negatively, reasserting its opposition to the construction of settlements. It stated that Lieberman’s announcement may “exacerbate this difficult situation on the ground and...will not contribute to efforts to reduce the tension.”
Earlier this week, the US State Department expressed deep concern that Israel’s actions would hamper efforts to reach a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
EU Sanctions Threat
Israel could soon find itself in trouble with Brussels, as any further attempts to pose obstacles to a two-state solution with occupied Palestine could result in sanctions, Haaretz revealed on Sunday, citing a ‘confidential’ EU document.
“The peace process is in deep freeze, but the situation on the ground is not. There is big frustration in Europe and zero tolerance for settlement activity. This paper is part of the internal brainstorming being done in Brussels these days, about what can be done to keep the two-state solution alive,” a European source told the paper.
In an October statement, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said: “We strongly condemn the latest Israeli announcement to expand its illegal settlements in and around occupied East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine.”
“This announcement amounts to evidence of intent to further commit crimes defined by, and punishable under international law,” he added.
Israel claimed East Beit ul-Muqaddas during the 1967 Six-Day War, with its annexation never being recognized internationally. Since then, Israel has built numerous settlements which are now under military regulation, with different laws being applied arbitrarily to certain areas.
Some 500,000 Israelis have settled in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, among 2.4 million Palestinians. The Israeli occupied territories have been seeking full Palestinian statehood and independence from Israel for decades. But despite international criticism, the Israeli government encourages Israelis in the West Bank to build new settlements.
