EU to Israel: Reconsider plans at Hill Hill and Mt.
Joseph Burrell joined the French and German denominations, claiming that "these measures will harm the two-state solution." He said building housing units would reduce the territorial continuity between Jerusalem and Bethlehem and isolate the Palestinian communities living in the area. "Union will not recognize changes in pre-1967 borders"
EU to Israel: Reconsider plans at Hill Hill and Mt.
Photo by Roni Kanfo, Edit: Shaul AdamEU Foreign Minister Joseph Borel issued a statement last Saturday urging Israel to "reconsider" its construction plans on Mount Homa and Hill Hill, which include approval of the construction of thousands of new housing units. "Such measures would be very damaging to a two-state solution," he said. "We urge Israel to reconsider these plans."
According to Borell, alt-step will reduce the territorial and geographical continuum between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, isolate the Palestinian communities living in these areas, "and threaten the feasibility of a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as the capital of two states."
"The settlements are illegal under international law," the Foreign Minister continued, saying that "the EU will not recognize changes in its pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, except those agreed by the parties."
More in Walla! NEWS
Germany and France condemn Netanyahu's announcement: "Concerned about construction on Hill plane" after freezing their promotion: Netanyahu approved adding thousands of units on EU Hill Hill: If Israel annexes the West Bank, we must respond to research that revealed that 3.5 million Israelis are eligible for Portuguese citizenship and passport European promoted contentNetanyahu and Leon on Har Homa (Photo: Roni Kanfo)
PM Netanyahu on Mount Homa February 20, 2020 (Photo: Roni Kanfo)
The statement comes in light of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement last Thursday about adding 2,200 units to Har Homa and another 2,000 on the plane's hill as well. "That means another 4,000 housing units: one thousand for Arab residents of Beit Safafa and 3,000 for Jewish residents," Netanyahu said.
A day later, Germany and France condemned the declaration, declaring their support for a two-state solution for two nations. The German Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concern" at the Prime Minister's announcement. "The new settlements undermine the prospect of a Palestinian state based on a two-state solution to be reached through negotiations," Germany said.
More in Walla! NEWS More in Walla! NEWSIn the background of the regularization discussions: the secret trip of the Mossad's head and the Southern Commanding Commanding General
To the full article"Israel is urged to reconsider these plans." Borel (Photo: Reuters)
Joseph Borell, EU Foreign Minister - February 2020 (Photo: Reuters, Reuters)
The French Ministry of European Affairs and Foreign Affairs also implored Israel to "reconsider" its decision as well as to avoid unilateral witnesses. "Expanding these two settlements undermines the feasibility of a future Palestinian state, as the EU has repeated on several occasions," said France, who noted that "any form of settlement is illegal under international law and challenges the two-state solution."
The French ministry added that "a two-state solution, with both countries living in peace and security with recognized borders, and Jerusalem being the capital of both countries, is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region."
