EU voices concern over new Jewish settlement plans

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton Thursday expressed "deep concern" at the announcement by the Jerusalem municipal authorities of their approval of building permits for 558 new units in East Jerusalem, in Har Homa, Neve Yaakov and Pisgat Zeev. "These plans could put at risk the prospects of Jerusalem becoming the capital of two states and, in particular, the territorial contiguity between East Jerusalem and the southern West Bank," she said in a statement. Ashton reminded that the EU and the international community have repeatedly warned that any unilateral action prejudging the final status of Jerusalem threatens the current peace negotiations and, as a consequence, the two-state solution. "Any such developments must be avoided at all costs," she said, urging "the Israeli authorities to reconsider their plans and to reverse their decision," she added.