World Jewish News

The EU calls on Israeli authorities to reconsider decisions to build units in the West Bank

The European Union has asked the Israeli authorities to reconsider their decisions to build thousands of units in the West Bank which, it said in a statement, ‘’ are detrimental to on-going efforts towards meaningful peace talks.’’

The statement by EU spokesperson Maja Kocijancic reads‘’This week, Israeli authorities further promoted plans, tenders and permits for thousands of settlement units across the West Bank, including, for the first time since 2002, in the heart of Hebron. We have also seen reports of construction work starting for the first new settlement in 20 years, Amihai, and of preparatory ground work being initiated in the sensitive area of Givat Hamatos in East Jerusalem, where further settlement construction would severely jeopardize the contiguity and viability of a future Palestinian state.’’

‘’The European Union has requested clarifications from Israeli authorities and conveyed the expectation that they reconsider these decisions, which are detrimental to on-going efforts towards meaningful peace talks.’’

The EU said its position ‘’is clear and has not changed: all settlement activity is illegal under international law, and it undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for a lasting peace.’’

The EU said it will continue to engage with both parties and its international and regional partners, including within the Quartet, to support a resumption of a meaningful process towards a negotiated two-state solution which it said ‘’is the only realistic and viable way to fulfil the legitimate aspirations of both parties.’’

This week, the Civil Administration’s High Planning Committee has approved 1,323 housing units in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), following the approval of 1,292 units.

The units approved included a new community to replace the outpost of Netiv Ha’Avot, which is to be evacuated in March 2018 following a High Court ruling, a permanent settlement in place of a temporary solution for the Migron evacuees, and validation of plans for Amihai, a new community to replace the outpost of Amona, which was evacuated in February after the High Court of Justice ruled it had been built on privately owned Palestinian land.

Also approved were 296 building permits in Bet El, 344 in Kfar Etzion, 31 in the Jewish Quarter of Hebron and hundreds more in communities outside large settlement blocs.

Speaking at the site of the new community of Amihai, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the government is building more housing in Judea and Samaria than at any time since the year 2000.

“We are working and we are working hard and we are building more than anyone has built since the year 2000,” Lieberman said.

“Since the beginning of 2017, construction has begun on some 3,000 units and some 7,500 units have been approved and we have reached figures that we haven’t seen for a long time,” he added.

Amona residents praised the decision as “nothing short of historic,” but added a note of caution that there is a significant gap between approving building plans and actually constructing houses. “We applaud the decision to approve the [Amihai] plan, this is a first and necessary step,” the residents said in a statement. “That being said, now is when the critical stage begins – we expect the Prime Minister and his ministers to immediately push the building forward. The time for words and promises is over and now is the time for action and for creating facts on the ground.’’

“After decades in which no new settlements were built in Judea and Samaria, the state is returning to the Zionist ethos and has decided to build a new community. This is a significant change, of course, for Israel, one that came about as a result of the struggle of the people of Amona and it joins the list of accomplishments, alongside the regulation bill,” the statement said.

Left-wing groups blasted the move as an attempt by Prime Minister Netanyahu to “prove how radical he is” in the face of expanding corruption allegations and investigations, and for indicating to Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria that they “the rule of law does not apply to them.”

“The Israeli government has lost all its inhibitions, while promoting settlement expansion in a record pace for recent years and distancing us daily from the possibility of a two state solution,’’ Peace Now said in a statement.

“The government is sending a clear message to settlers – build illegally and anywhere and we will find a solution for you. It is clear that Netanyahu is prioritizing his settler constituency over the rule of law and the possibility for peace,” the statement continued.

TPS contributed to this report.

EJP