Certain Security Council members condemn Israeli construction over green line; Palis fume at US
The UN Security Council was not too busy on Tuesday, and so some of its members found time to condemn the issuance of construction permits in Beitar Ilit (half a kilometer from the 'green line'), Givat Zev (4.9 kilometers from the 'green line') and Har Homa, which is within the Jerusalem city limits. India, Brazil, and South Africa objected to the Israeli move following a Security Council meeting centered on the conflict in the Middle East, while Russia's UN envoy questioned Israel's commitment to the two-state solution. Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal - Europe's representatives on the council - said in a statement that they were "dismayed by these wholly negative developments," according to the report.Still waiting for them to condemn the 'Palestinians' for refusing to even come to the table? Don't hold your breath. But at least the US is staying out of this. After all, it's an election year. And the 'Palestinians' are furious.
"The viability of the Palestinian state that we want to see and the two-state solution that is essential for Israel's long-term security are threatened by the systematic and deliberate expansion of settlements," AFP quoted British UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant as saying.
The tenders will be issued for: 348 homes in the Betar Illit settlement in Gush Etzion, less than half a kilometer past the pre-1967 line; 180 homes in the Givat Ze’ev settlement, located north of Jerusalem, 4.9 km. over the pre-1967 Green Line; and 500 homes in Har Homa, a Jewish neighborhood in east Jerusalem.
Left-wing activists view Har Homa as one of the most controversial Jewish neighborhoods in the capital, because it was founded after the Oslo Accords were signed and because it creates a barrier of Jewish homes between east Jerusalem Arab neighborhoods and Bethlehem.
Neither US Ambassador Susan Rice nor any of her deputies appeared at the Security Council microphone to speak to reporters after the meeting. Churkin said the series of addresses to the media on Tuesday on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a "completely new development."Awwwww....
Palestinian observer Riyad Mansour told reporters that "one powerful member of the Security Council" -- the United States -- was preventing it from dealing with the settlements issue and other problems related to the Middle East peace process.
Labels: East Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria construction, United Nations Security Council
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:55 AM
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