New EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, slammed the approval by the Israeli authorities of the construction of 500 new housing units in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ramat Shlomo which, she said, ‘’represents yet another highly detrimental step which undermines the prospects for a two-state solution and seriously calls into question Israel's commitment to a peaceful negotiated settlement with the Palestinians.’’
The approval was given by the Israeli Interior Ministry's District Committee for Planning and Construction in Jerusalem. Ramat Shlomo is located beyond the Green Line.
‘’This decision risks to jeopardize the on-going efforts to resume a diplomatic process,’’ Mogherini said in a statement three days before she is due to make a visit to Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza, her first trip since taking over the post of High Representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security from Catherine Ashton.
She recalled that ‘’the international community, starting from the EU, is engaged in providing assistance for the rehabilitation of Gaza and help the parties to restart a peace process.’’
She deplored that ‘’since the pleas by the EU, by its Member States and by many other members of the international community on the issue of Israeli settlements have remained unheard’’ and called on the Israeli authorities ‘’to reverse it and put an end to its settlement policy in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank.’’
Mogherini will start her visit to the region on Friday meant to be "a signal of the priority given to the region by the EU," a spokesperson said earlier this week.
In an interview with several European newspapers, Mogherini said that she would be "pleased" to see a "Palestinian state" within five years, before the end of her term.
Last month, the EU threatened to link the future of EU-Israel relations on Israel's "commitment to peace".
It has also promised a ‘special priviliged partnership’ with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority if a peace agreement is signed.