Israeli ire, Palestinian praise for EU criticism of settlements
EU Foreign Affairs Council unanimously approved statement on Palestine-Israel conflict that called on Israel to end its settlement activities
A European Union resolution criticizing Israel's settlement activity within the occupied West Bank was welcomed by Palestinians, but prompted condemnation from Israel late Monday.
The EU's Foreign Affairs Council unanimously approved a statement on the Palestine-Israel conflict that called on Israel to end its settlement activities as they are "illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two state solution impossible."
The resolution also insisted that the EU would not drop guidelines on labeling products exported from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, despite Israel's threat to bar the EU from the peace process as a consequence. It said the guidelines did not constitute a boycott of Israel.
The Palestinian Liberation Organization's Secretary-General Saeb Erekat welcomed the resolution in a statement on Monday, saying "we look forward to a greater European involvement."
"Although we still believe that Europe should take immediate steps, such as banning settlement products, the Council’s conclusion on the Middle East Peace Process is a message to the Israeli government," said Erekat.
In contrast, Israel rejected the EU move, indicating that a diplomatic row between Israel, the EU and several European countries will continue.
"The EU continues to apply a double standard in relation to Israel, ignoring the Palestinian Authority’s responsibility for the diplomatic stalemate and the incitement feeding the current wave of Palestinian terrorism," said a statement issued by Israel's foreign ministry. "Out of 200 border conflicts in the world today, the EU has chosen to discriminate against Israel."
Several meetings between high-level European and Israeli officials were cancelled in December following the EU adoption of labeling for settlement products, but there has been a particularly intense row with Sweden, after its foreign minister criticized Israel for the number of Palestinians shot dead instead of being arrested after alleged stabbing attacks.
