LOC16:24
13:24 GMT
PARIS, Dec 2 (KUNA) -- The French government on Thursday expressed
disappointment at Israels failure to take confidence-building measures with
the Palestinian side, and officials here "strongly deplored" an Israeli plan
to build more illegal settlements in Arab East Jerusalem.
The French Foreign Ministry said that it has been "expecting courageous and
responsible decisions of a type to establish a climate of confidence between
the parties" involved in the peace process but now it must "strongly deplore
the pursuit of planning by the Israeli authorities to build another 625
housing units" in Jerusalem.
A strong statement here noted that the new units were destined to be built
in the illegal settlement of "Pisgat Zeev" in Arab East Jerusalem.
France also said that it deplored "recent evictions and the destruction of
(Arab) homes that has taken place in the West Bank and East Jerusalem."
Israel has been forcibly removing Arab populations and destroying their
often centuries-old homes in Jerusalem to make way for settlements and Jewish
institutions.
"Settlement-building is illegal with regard to international law (and)
contrary to Israels international commitments and is harmful to peace efforts,
" the Foreign Ministry statement said.
"We call on Israel to reverse this decision," the statement said of the
latest construction plan, noting that Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie
has deplored the fact that calls on Israel to extend a moratorium on
settlement building have been ignored. (End).
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KUNA 021624 Dec 10NNNN