WEST BANK: Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says Israel's building of new settlements "risks undermining the Palestinian government"

Record ID: 561421

  • Title: WEST BANK: Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says Israel's building of new settlements "risks undermining the Palestinian government"
  • Date: 10th July 2008
  • Summary: (EU) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 9, 2008) (REUTERS) CONVOY CARRYING ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANCO FRATTINI ARRIVING AT PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD'S OFFICE FLAGS ON CAR AND BUILDING FRATTINI WALKING UP STEPS FRATTINI AND FAYYAD SHAKING HANDS FRATTINI SITTING AND TALKING FAYYAD SITTING AND TALKING FRATTINI AND FAYYAD SITTING AND TALKING FRATTINI AND FAYYAD WALKING TO PODIUM JOURNALISTS FAYYAD AND FRATTINI STANDING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANCO FRATTINI SAYING: "I have stressed the importance of keeping a very moderate approach vis-a-vis new settlements because what is said very often that Israel was able also to destroy settlements - should be compared with the fact that if you build new and new and new and new settlements you risk undermining the credibility of the Palestinian government, which is not in our interest, which is not in the interest of Israel, which is not in the interest of the international community." FRATTINI AND FAYYAD (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD SAYING: "Israeli army enter our cities most exemplified recently over the past three days. Three days in a row, the Israeli army sending troops into Nablus, shutting down the institutions, this is not anything that we at all accept. And in a way is extremely disruptive in a city that is economically depressed. This kind of intervention, as I have repeatedly stated, undermines grossly our efforts aimed at rebuilding our capacity." JOURNALISTS SITTING JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES FRATTINI WALKING OUT OF ROOM
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA82STYR8GQ0RLBR4IKLPI8BA9I
  • Story Text: Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday (July 9) on his last day visiting the region.
    Frattini said Israel's settlement construction in the West Bank undermined the Palestinian government, actions which are not in anyone's interest.

    "I have stressed the importance of keeping a very moderate approach vis-a-vis new settlements because what is said very often that Israel was able also to destroy settlements - should be compared with the fact that if you build new and new and new and new settlements you risk undermining the credibility of the Palestinian government, which is not in our interest, which is not in the interest of Israel, which is not in the interest of the international community," Frattini told reporters after his meeting in Ramallah.
    The Palestinians and Western powers have called for a stop to all Israeli settlement activity, including expansion and development of new settlements. Palestinian Authority officials have said that continued settlement activity jeopardises peace talks.
    The first stage of the U.S.-promoted "road map" also calls for a freeze on settlement activity. Israeli officials have said that Palestinians have not met their obligations under the "road map"
    which calls for them to curtail Palestinian militant activity, and end violence directed at Israel.
    Fayyad denounced Israeli raids into Nablus, disrupting an already economically depressed city.
    Israeli troops raided the city hall of the West Bank town of Nablus on Wednesday, seizing computers and causing damage, Palestinian officials said.
    Officials said the troops also raided six mosques and confiscated three buses from an Islamic school in town.

    "Israeli army enter our cities most exemplified recently over the past three days. Three days in a row, the Israeli army sending troops into Nablus, shutting down the institutions, this is not anything that we at all accept. And in a way is extremely disruptive in a city that is economically depressed. This kind of intervention, as I have repeatedly stated, undermines grossly our efforts aimed at rebuilding our capacity," he said.
    An Israeli military spokesman had no immediate comment on the operations, which coincided with a stepped up campaign against organisations that Israel suspects have links to the Islamist group Hamas.
    Nablus stores and businesses announced a general strike in protest against the raid.
    Later on Wednesday, Frattini is scheduled to visit Jerusalem's old city, and meet with the Latin Patriarch before leaving the region.
    Nablus is governed by President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority, but the Israeli army mounts frequent raids into the city in what the military describes as efforts to prevent attacks by militants.
    On Tuesday, Israeli forces raided a popular shopping mall in Nablus, ordering its closure for two years over its owner's alleged links to the Hamas.
    Hamas, which opposes Abbas's peace talks with Israel, seized the Gaza Strip from his Fatah faction in fighting a year ago.
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