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http://english.alarabiya.net EU slams Israel over settlements, treatment of Palestinians EU foreign ministers on Monday issued a harsh critique of Israel, saying the gathering pace of settlement-building, settler extremism, and ill-treatment of Palestinians threatens a two-state solution. “The EU expresses deep concern about developments on the ground which threaten to make a two-state solution impossible,” the bloc’s 27 ministers said in a statement issued during talks in Brussels. “The viability of a two-state solution must be maintained,” the three-page European Union statement added. Reiterating that settlements are illegal under international law, the ministers notably condemned “the marked acceleration” of settlement building since the end of a 2010 moratorium and expressed “deep concern” over settler extremism and incitement in the West Bank. They also voiced concern over evictions and the demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem “and the prevention of peaceful Palestinian cultural, economic, social or political activities.” Turning to the so-called Area C zone of the occupied West Bank, where Israel has full civil and security control, the statement underlined “the worsening living conditions” of the Palestinian population in general. The ministers’ stand came on the heels of a damaging report by NGOs alleging that Israel last year demolished dozens of Palestinian homes, water cisterns and farm buildings built with European funds. In Area C, Israel has placed “serious limitations” on the Palestinian authority’s ability to promote economic development, the statement said. Saying the future of Area C was critical to a future Palestinian state because this was its main land reserve, the EU urged Israel to halt demolitions and simplify the granting of building permits. “The EU will continue to provide financial assistance for Palestinian development in Area C and expects such investment to be protected for future use,” the statement said. Israel’s foreign ministry issued a statement criticizing the EU comments, which they said “include a long list of claims and criticism which are based on a partial, biased and one-sided depiction of realities on the ground.” “Such a public presentation does not contribute to advancing the (peace) process,” the statement read. “Israel is committed to the wellbeing of the Palestinian population and acts according to all relevant international conventions.” On the “serious limitations” on Palestinian development in Area C, the Israeli statement said that “119 projects were authorized in 2011” in that region, “through continuous dialogue with representatives of countries and other donors, in order to ensure that planned projects are coordinated and in conformity with local urban master plans and with the law.”
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