Lankan Ranger
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US Warns Israel Over Settlement Expansion
The United States has warned that Israel risks damaging the prospects of peace with the Palestinians by approving the expansion of a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined a wave of international condemnation of Israels decision to approve the construction of 1,100 new homes in Gilo.
The large, well established settlement - between Jerusalem and Bethlehem - was built on land seized by Israel in the 1967 war.
Mrs Clinton said the move could be seen as "provocative" and "counter-productive" at a time when efforts are being made to restart peace negotiations.
Lady Ashton, the EU's head of foreign policy, said the settlement expansion "threatens the viability of the agreed two-state solution" and called for the decision to be reversed.
The Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the move was "a slap in the face".
The Middle East Quartet - made up of Russia, the EU, the US and the UN - is trying to bring both Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table within the next month.
The urgent effort to restart talks follows the Palestinian bid to be recognised as a state by the United Nations.
The Palestinians have called for a freeze on settlement construction as a condition for joining the talks. Israel has indicated a willingness to return to negotiations but is yet to announce its terms for participation.
More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, built on occupied territory that the Palestinians want for their state. The settlements are considered illegal under international law but Israel claims the communities are legitimate.
The expansion of Gilo has been planned for more than two years and will still be subject to a round of public consultation before it is finally approved.
The Quartet is anxious to re-start the negotiations before the UN Security Council votes on the Palestinian bid for statehood with the US poised to veto the move.
There are fears that the rejection of the bid could trigger a new wave of violence in the absence of any progress in negotiations with Israel.
Israel Gilo Settlement Expansion: US Warns Palestinian Peace Process At Risk If Move Goes Ahead | World News | Sky News
The United States has warned that Israel risks damaging the prospects of peace with the Palestinians by approving the expansion of a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined a wave of international condemnation of Israels decision to approve the construction of 1,100 new homes in Gilo.
The large, well established settlement - between Jerusalem and Bethlehem - was built on land seized by Israel in the 1967 war.
Mrs Clinton said the move could be seen as "provocative" and "counter-productive" at a time when efforts are being made to restart peace negotiations.
Lady Ashton, the EU's head of foreign policy, said the settlement expansion "threatens the viability of the agreed two-state solution" and called for the decision to be reversed.
The Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the move was "a slap in the face".
The Middle East Quartet - made up of Russia, the EU, the US and the UN - is trying to bring both Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table within the next month.
The urgent effort to restart talks follows the Palestinian bid to be recognised as a state by the United Nations.
The Palestinians have called for a freeze on settlement construction as a condition for joining the talks. Israel has indicated a willingness to return to negotiations but is yet to announce its terms for participation.
More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, built on occupied territory that the Palestinians want for their state. The settlements are considered illegal under international law but Israel claims the communities are legitimate.
The expansion of Gilo has been planned for more than two years and will still be subject to a round of public consultation before it is finally approved.
The Quartet is anxious to re-start the negotiations before the UN Security Council votes on the Palestinian bid for statehood with the US poised to veto the move.
There are fears that the rejection of the bid could trigger a new wave of violence in the absence of any progress in negotiations with Israel.
Israel Gilo Settlement Expansion: US Warns Palestinian Peace Process At Risk If Move Goes Ahead | World News | Sky News