Hollande criticizes Israeli plan to build new settlements
Source: Agencies |
December 4, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FRENCH President Francois Hollande criticized a new Israeli settlement-building drive on occupied land yesterday as contrary to peacemaking with Palestinians but said Paris was not ready to impose sanctions on the Jewish state.
Speaking after Israel's envoy in Paris was summoned to the French foreign ministry, Hollande said he was "extremely concerned" by Israel's announcement that it would build 3,000 new settler homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, after a de facto UN recognition of Palestinian statehood.
"The measures announced are in opposition to dialogue and (Israel) should go back on them," Hollande said at a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in Lyon.
A French foreign ministry official had earlier dismissed reports Paris could recall its envoy in Jerusalem and said France was looking at other ways of putting pressure on right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When asked if trade sanctions could be an option for Paris, Hollande said France's priority was to encourage both parties to resume talks.
"We don't want to shift into sanctions mode. We are more focused on persuading. It's an important moment, but I appeal for responsibility."
According to the foreign ministry, France imports about 1 billion euros (US$1.3 billion) of goods from Israel each year, making it the Jewish state's ninth biggest trade partner.
France and Britain, both UN Security Council members, have condemned Israel's plans to expand Jewish settlement, saying it would jeopardize international confidence in Israel's desire to make peace with Palestinians.
The foreign ministry said earlier yesterday it had told the Israeli ambassador that "settlements are illegal under international law, destroy confidence in reviving dialogue and constitute an obstacle to a fair peace based on a two-state solution."
Israel says it has a historical claim to land in the West Bank and to all of Jerusalem, while Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
An official in Netanyahu's office said yesterday that Israel would bend to European pressure. "Israel will continue to stand by its vital interests, even in the face of international pressure, and there will be no change in the decision that was made," the official said.
Especially sensitive
Just hours after the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to upgrade the Palestinians' diplomatic status, Israel said last Friday it would build thousands of new settler homes, including in a wedge zone between Jerusalem and the West Bank, known as E1, which Washington considers especially sensitive as it would fragment territory Palestinians want for a state.
Diplomatic sources said both London and Paris were considering the unprecedented step of recalling their ambassadors to Tel Aviv, but both countries signaled there was still room for maneuver to avoid a deep crisis with Israel.
"There are other ways in which we can express our disapproval," a French foreign ministry official said.
Speaking after Israel's envoy in Paris was summoned to the French foreign ministry, Hollande said he was "extremely concerned" by Israel's announcement that it would build 3,000 new settler homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, after a de facto UN recognition of Palestinian statehood.
"The measures announced are in opposition to dialogue and (Israel) should go back on them," Hollande said at a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in Lyon.
A French foreign ministry official had earlier dismissed reports Paris could recall its envoy in Jerusalem and said France was looking at other ways of putting pressure on right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When asked if trade sanctions could be an option for Paris, Hollande said France's priority was to encourage both parties to resume talks.
"We don't want to shift into sanctions mode. We are more focused on persuading. It's an important moment, but I appeal for responsibility."
According to the foreign ministry, France imports about 1 billion euros (US$1.3 billion) of goods from Israel each year, making it the Jewish state's ninth biggest trade partner.
France and Britain, both UN Security Council members, have condemned Israel's plans to expand Jewish settlement, saying it would jeopardize international confidence in Israel's desire to make peace with Palestinians.
The foreign ministry said earlier yesterday it had told the Israeli ambassador that "settlements are illegal under international law, destroy confidence in reviving dialogue and constitute an obstacle to a fair peace based on a two-state solution."
Israel says it has a historical claim to land in the West Bank and to all of Jerusalem, while Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
An official in Netanyahu's office said yesterday that Israel would bend to European pressure. "Israel will continue to stand by its vital interests, even in the face of international pressure, and there will be no change in the decision that was made," the official said.
Especially sensitive
Just hours after the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to upgrade the Palestinians' diplomatic status, Israel said last Friday it would build thousands of new settler homes, including in a wedge zone between Jerusalem and the West Bank, known as E1, which Washington considers especially sensitive as it would fragment territory Palestinians want for a state.
Diplomatic sources said both London and Paris were considering the unprecedented step of recalling their ambassadors to Tel Aviv, but both countries signaled there was still room for maneuver to avoid a deep crisis with Israel.
"There are other ways in which we can express our disapproval," a French foreign ministry official said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
