MIDDLE EAST: Israel says criticism of the Jewish state by four European U.N. Security Council members may hinder resumption of direct peace talks

Record ID: 397317

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: Israel says criticism of the Jewish state by four European U.N. Security Council members may hinder resumption of direct peace talks
  • Date: 23rd December 2011
  • Summary: MORE OF PALMOR EFRAT SETTLEMENT, WEST BANK (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EFRAT SETTLEMENT FROM A DISTANCE ISRAELI FLAG OVER EFRAT LOCAL COUNCIL BUILDING TWO WOMEN PRAYING SIGN READING 'EFRAT LOCAL COUNCIL BUILDING' MORE OF EFRAT SETTLEMENT AS SEEN FROM A DISTANCE
  • Embargoed: 7th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jerusalem, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA79NBLFB6OINDLZ1MVTQMHR7T3
  • Story Text: Israel on Thursday (December 22, 2011) said four European U.N. Security Council members should support a resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks because their criticism of the Jewish state could sideline them from negotiations.
    On Tuesday (December 20), representatives of Britain, France, Germany and Portugal said a briefing by U.N. assistant secretary-general for political affairs had made clear to the 15-nation council that Israeli settlement activity was undermining attempts to restart peace talks.
    An Israeli foreign ministry statement did not mention settlements but said that "interfering with Israel's domestic affairs, including on issues which are to be solved within the framework of direct talks, does not enhance the status they (the members) wish to be granted".
    Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said the statement made by the European U.N security council members contradicted the Quartet-approved framework for resumption of direct peace talks.
    "We are absolutely dismayed by the statements made by the European members of the security council where they completely drop the fundamental principle of direct negotiations. They preach a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, we have agreed of course to the Quartet plan under which both sides should submit ideas and plans to each other and then start direct negotiations. And then comes this statement, completely unwarranted, completely out of the blue and expresses a whole new line of indirect negotiations," Palmor said, without referring to criticism over Israel's settlement activity.
    Peace talks brokered by the Quartet of Middle East negotiators - the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union - collapsed a year ago over Israel's refusal to halt construction in settlements. The Palestinians have refused to resume them unless Israel stops building.
    Israel says negotiations should resume without preconditions and that most of its settlement construction takes place in areas it intends to keep in any future peace deal.
    Most countries consider settlements Israel has built in the West Bank illegal, although Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical links to the land.
    The Palestinians, who want to establish a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, say settlement expansion will deny them a viable country.
    Britain, France, Germany and Portugal called for an immediate halt to Israeli settlement activity, adding that they hoped the government would follow through on promises to bring settlers guilty of violence to justice.
    Militant West Bank settlers have waged what they call "Price Tag" attacks against Palestinian property, including vandalising mosques, in revenge for violence against settlers and as retribution for Israeli government curbs on settlements.
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