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Israel under diplomatic attacks from Europe over settlement construction

03 December 2012 17:46 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Britain, France and Sweden have summoned Israeli ambassadors for clarifications over the Israeli government's planned expansion of settlements and are contemplating further punitive measures, local news outlets reported Monday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The Israeli ambassadors in the three countries were reprimanded due to the Israeli government's decision announced on Friday to build 3,000 new housing units in settlements in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and in the controversial E1 area connecting the two.

The construction in the E1 territories is especially unaccepted among the international community since by building there Israel is trying to create a continuing territorial stretch which would separate blocs of Palestinian territories and make it harder to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank.

In addition to the harsh talks, the Ha'aretz daily reported earlier Monday that both Britain and France are considering further punitive steps which would include an unprecedented step of recalling their ambassadors to Israel, according to senior European diplomats.

The decision to expand the settlements was made within 24 hours after the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of upgrading the Palestinian National Authority's status to that of a non-member observer state, a major diplomatic blow to Israel.

The British Foreign Office issued a statement condemning the Israeli move, saying that it "deplores" the recent decision, which "threatens the viability of the two-state solution," and adding that it "calls upon the Israeli government to reverse its decision. "

German and Russian governments also issued concerned statements on Monday, calling upon Israel to refrain from expanding the settlements, with the German government "appealing Israel to stop the procedure" and Russia saying that it views the expansion plan with "serious concern."

Israel has also been condemned for its decision to withhold more than 100 million U.S. dollars of monthly tax revenues it collects for the Palestinian National Authority in punishment of the UN bid.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Germany and meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel amid the escalating diplomatic criticism towards Israel.