Israel Matzav

Israel 'endangering' possibility that Jerusalem will be the capital of the 'Palestinian' reichlet

Lady Ugliness, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, has called on Israel to 'take back' plans to build in the Jewish Jerusalem neighborhoods of Neve Yaakov, Pisgat Zev and Har Homa, claiming that such construction endangers the possibility of Jerusalem being the capital of 'Palestine.'

"These plans endanger the chances of turning Jerusalem into the capital of two countries," claimed Ashton, referencing the US plan to establish an Arab capital in Jerusalem. "I call on the government of Israel to weigh this step again, and take back its decision."

The Obama administration had already condemned the plans on Wednesday. 

Ashton's disapproval over the idea of Jewish homes being built echoes condemnation from the US State Department on Wednesday. Spokesperson Jen Psaki said "we oppose any unilateral actions by either party that attempt to prejudge final status issues, including the status of Jerusalem."

Israel did not agree to a building freeze anywhere in the run-up to the current 'talks.'

JPost adds:

Ashton, increasingly criticized by government officials for swiftly condemning every building announcement beyond the 1967 lines but not protesting similarly Palestinian incitement or violence, issued a statement saying she was “deeply concerned” by the announcement.

“These plans could put at risk the prospects of Jerusalem becoming the capital of two states and, in particular, the territorial contiguity between east Jerusalem and the southern West Bank,” she said.

“The EU and the international community have repeatedly warned that any unilateral action prejudging the final status of Jerusalem threatens the current peace negotiations and, as a consequence, the two-state solution,” she added. “Any such developments must be avoided at all costs.”

Despite Ashton’s adoption of the Palestinian position that Jerusalem will be the capital of a future Palestinian state, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has said repeatedly that he is opposed to dividing the capital.

As I noted in an earlier post, we have made ourselves susceptible to this kind of international pressure. This will continue until the Prime Minister's backbone is located.

Labels: Catherine Ashton, East Jerusalem, Har Homa, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, Middle East peace process, Pisgat Zev

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:41 AM