Israel chides EU states over settlement criticism

The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed sharp disapproval of recent remarks by European Union members of the United Nations Security Council ( UNSC), over Israel's settlement policies in the West Bank, and recent vandalism attacks against Palestinians. The condemnation came a day after Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal slammed both recent "price tag" attacks against Palestinian mosques and property, and Israel's decision earlier in the week to announce tenders for construction in several communities in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem, dubbing the latter a "wholly negative" move on Israel's part. However, suggesting that "UNSC members focus on the international agenda rather than turn upside down the fitting priorities of the international community," a ministry statement released Wednesday evening said that UNSC members preferred doing "what is easy and unnecessary, rather than muster their courage and do that which is difficult and necessary." The statement warned that the member states were "bound to lose their credibility and make themselves irrelevant" by micro- focusing on Israel's policies and internal affairs. The statement also called on the UNSC to "support the resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians under the Quartet plan," which it said Israel had adopted and the Palestinian National Authority rejected.