EU worried about expansion of Jewish settlements

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has expressed "extreme concern" by reports of the Israeli government's announcement regarding the construction of approximately 3,000 new housing units in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. "The European Union has repeatedly stated that all settlement construction is illegal under international law and constitutes an obstacle to peace," she said in a statement. "I am therefore extremely worried by the prospects of settlement expansion on such a scale. The reaction of the international community to any such decision is likely also to be influenced by the extent to which such expansion may represent a strategic step undermining the prospects of a contiguous and viable Palestine with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both it and Israel," noted the statement. She urged both parties to work towards the resumption of direct negotiations without delay or preconditions. Ashton asked the government of Israel to show its commitment to the early renewal of negotiations to end the conflict and the occupation.