EU Hammers "Israeli" Settlements, Urges Sanctions

Local Editor

A report published by the European union indicated Wednesday that "Israel's" construction of settlement in east al-Quds is a deliberate strategy to prevent the city from becoming capital of two states.

It further urged the EU members to block funding for any settlement activities.

In its al-Quds Report 2012, a copy of which was seen by AFP, the European Union said the Zionist settlement construction posed "the biggest single threat to the two-state solution".
And it outlined a series of recommendations urging member states to halt or avoid any financial investment or transactions which could directly or indirectly feed into "Israel's" settlement-building enterprise- in an effective call for economic sanctions.

Written by the EU heads of mission in al-Quds and Ramallah, the strongly-worded report described "Israel's" settlement construction in east al-Quds as "systematic, deliberate and provocative" accusing the Zionist entity of making deliberate political choices that threaten to render the two-state solution impossible.
An "Israel" spokesman dismissed the report, saying it showed that the Europeans had failed in their diplomatic mission.
"A diplomat's mission is to build bridges and not to encourage confrontation," "Israeli" foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor claimed, and noted that "these consuls have failed in their diplomatic mission."
In the 15-page report, EU diplomats flagged construction on the southern flank of east al-Quds - particularly in Har Homa, Gilo and Givat HaMatos settlements- as being the "most significant and problematic" saying that if it continued unabated, it would likely cut the area off from Bethlehem by the end of the year.

"The construction of these three settlements is part of a political strategy aiming at making it impossible for al-Quds to become the capital of two states," it warned, and pointed out that "if the current pace of settlement activity on al-Quds' southern flank persists, an effective buffer between east al-Quds and Bethlehem may be in place by the end of 2013, thus making the realization of a viable two-state solution inordinately more difficult, if not impossible."
In 2012, tenders were issued for 2,366 new units which was "more than twice" the total number issued over the preceding three years, the report said, noting most were for construction in "Har Homa".

It also highlighted "Israel's" plans to build 3,426 units in E1- east of al-Quds, saying if implemented, it would threaten "2,300 Bedouin with forcible transfer" and effectively cut the West Bank in half.
The report makes six recommendations on economic issues, suggesting member states "prevent, discourage and raise awareness about problematic implications of financial transactions, including foreign direct investments, from within the EU in support of settlement activities, infrastructure and services."
It also urges member states "ensure that imports of settlement products do not benefit from preferential tariffs" and that all such products are clearly labeled as originating from areas considered illegal under international law.


Source: News agencies, Edited by moqawama.org