European Union High Representative Josep Borrell Sundays said he is “deeply worried ” by Israel’s decision to open the bidding process for the construction of housing units for an entirely new settlement at Givat Hamatos.
He noted in a statement that this is a key location between Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. “Any settlement construction will cause serious damage to the prospects for a viable and contiguous Palestinian State and, more broadly, to the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution in line with the internationally agreed parameters and with Jerusalem as the future capital of two states,” he said.
“The EU has repeatedly called on Israel to end all settlement activity, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001. It remains the EU’s firm position that settlements are illegal under international law,” said Borrell. He called on Israel to “reverse these negative decisions at this critical and sensitive time”.
Source-Kuna