US, EU: Israel's authorization of 300 new settler homes harmful to peace
Nabil Abu Rudaineh, spokesman for the PA presidency, said the decision would sabotage US and EU efforts to resume the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
By TOVAH LAZAROFF, HERB KEINON, KHALED ABU TOAMEHUpdated: JULY 30, 2015 08:26A laborer works on an apartment building under construction in the Har Homa quarter in Jerusalem(photo credit: REUTERS)
American and European officials warned Israel on Wednesday that its authorization of 300 new settler homes in the Beit El settlement was harmful to ongoing efforts to jump start the frozen peace process.Nabil Abu Rudaineh, spokesman for the PA presidency, said the decision would sabotage US and EU efforts to resume the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.“This requires a quick intervention by the international community to stop dangerous Israeli policies that could lead to further deterioration,” he said. “The decision also represents a message that Israel is not interested in peace or any efforts to create a climate that paves the way for peace.”The US State Department deputy spokesman said, "Settlement expansion threatens the two-state solution and calls into question Israel’s commitment to a negotiated resolution to the conflict. We continue to urge the Israeli government to refrain from unhelpful actions that undercut the possibility of a two-state solution."The EU slammed the government’s decision, saying it calls into question Israel’s commitment to a two-state solution.“Moreover,” a statement released by the EU read, “the governmental plans to approve unauthorized outposts across the West Bank would further undermine the practical possibility of implementing the two-state solution.”The statement said the EU expects Israel to demonstrate its commitment to the two-state solution not only through words, but also actions.“We urge the government of Israel to urgently reverse recent decisions and put an end to settlement expansion,” the statement read.Netanyahu ordered the authorization of the homes shortly after a High Court of Justice ruling that two unfinished apartment buildings in the Beit El settlement must be demolished. Within hours cranes began to take apart the structures, which would have housed 24 apartments.Netanyahu had thrown his support behind the legal battle by the Beit El settlement to save the two apartment buildings, which would have housed 24 families.
Once the High Court of Justice issued its final decision on the matter Wednesday afternoon, Netanyahu said the rule of law must be respected.“Israel is a law abiding democratic state that respects the decision of the courts,” Netanyahu said.Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel from the Bayit Yehudi Party issued a veiled threat to break up the coalition when he demanded that Netanyahu take action and legalize new building within an hour.Likud sources, however, said his statement was a public relations gimmick, since Netanyahu had already informed Bayit Yehudi that he would approve new housing.Soon after Ariel’s statement, Netanyahu ordered the immediate construction of 300 new housing units at Beit El. He had promised the community in 2012 he would authorize the units in exchange for their peaceful evacuation of the Ulpana outpost.But activists were not assuaged by his actions, particularly since he also had pledged at the time that the two apartment buildings would be legalized.“I personally helped the families move,” one outraged woman told Border Police officers in Beit El as she watched bulldozerstake bites out of the concrete structures.The contractor had began work on the buildings in 2010, but without the necessary permits, which he only received last week.The High Court of Justice on Wednesday rejected all petitions that argued it was illogical to destroy the structures due to the missing permits.The contractor has pledged to rebuild, and a cornerstone-laying ceremony is to be held at the new site in Beit El Thursday afternoon.In addition, Netanyahu on Wednesday advanced plans building in Jerusalem neighborhoods over the Green Llne that included, 115 units in Pisgat Ze’ev, 300 units in Ramot, 70 units in Gilo, and 19 units in Har Homa.But in Judea and Samaria, settlers, activists and politicians focused their outrage at the lack of building on politicians and the High Court of Justice.Signs hung of porches in Beit El that said, "Netanyahu is choking the settlements" and "[Education Minister Naftali] Bennett is silent?"For weeks, settlers had rallied in support of legalizing the structures. Early this week, young activists began camping out in the Beit El buildings in advance of a forced demolition.The Border Police removed them in a surprise predawn raid Tuesday. But the activists and settlers continued to arrive in Beit El throughout the day and held a tense standoff with security forces that occasionally flared into violence that included an exchange of blows.A total of 22 people were arrested in clashes with police late Tuesday night and throughout Wednesday for either throwing stones or attacking police.Upon hearing the High Court verdict confirming the demolition on Wednesday morning, some teens unsuccessfully attempted to cross the police barrier in the direction of the doomed buildings.“We’re waging war,” shouted an adult activist as he stood on a porch that overlooked the activists and demolition site. But in spite of the strong words he shouted through a bullhorn, the youths did little to disrupt the razing of the buildings.At times they sang, and at other times they resumed trying to push through the barrier, but were easily pushed back by police.Every so often, they threw water bottles at police. Others attempted to talk with the police as they stood there.“Look me in the eye,” said one activists as he stood face to face with an officer.The officer looked away.“You can’t look me in the eye,” the activist said in response.“It’s because you know that you are in the wrong.”The officer then looked the young man in the eye and the two of them stood there, face to face for a long moment in a staring contest. Ben Hartman contributed to this report.
