EU High Representative Catherine Ashton Thursday reiterated the EU position that Israeli "settlements are illegal under international law." In a statement she referred to the announcement on November 3 by the Israeli authorities about tenders for 1859 settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. "The EU deplores the latest settlement announcement and calls on the Israeli government to reverse its decision. Any actions that could hamper or undermine the on-going negotiations must be avoided," she stated. Ashton added that "bold and decisive leadership is needed for the current peace negotiations to succeed."