JERUSALEM: Israel’s announcement of plans to expand Jewish settlements on Palestinian lands has clouded the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
The United States, European Union and United Nations on Monday condemned Israel’s announcement on Sunday of construction plans for about 2,000 new settler homes.
“The United States of America views all of the settlements as illegitimate,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said during a visit to Colombia.
However, he urged the Palestinians not to react adversely to Israel’s latest plans.
The European Union also on Monday warned that the Israeli regime’s decision to approve the construction settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories was illegal.
“Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impossible,” Michael Mann, the spokesman for EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said.
Similar criticism was voiced by spokesmen for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Palestinians condemned the settlement plans but have stopped short of threatening to walk out ahead of Wednesday’s talks.
