EU: Israeli settlement expansion threat to peace

BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (KUNA) -- The EU has slammed the announcement by the Jerusalem Municipality that it will advance plans for 500 new housing units in the Jewish settlement Ramat Shlomo, East Jerusalem.
A statement by a spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini Saturday said this decision would affect land privately owned by Palestinians, and extend the settlement northeast, further encroaching on Palestinian inhabited areas, while linking to expansion of a neighbouring Israeli settlement to the west.
"The policy of settlement construction and expansion, illegal under international law, continues to undermine the contiguity of a future Palestinian state and therefore raises questions about Israel's stated commitment to the two-state solution," said the EU.
"The settlement policy, designation of land for exclusive Israeli use and the denial of Palestinian development are steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution and represent a threat to achieving a negotiated peace." It warned. (end) nk.gta