Israel declared on Monday that it would go ahead with its settlement expansion plans in the occupied Palestinian territory of West Bank despite strong international criticism.
"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," said a statement issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
Israel had earlier announced plans to construct 3,000 new settler homes in the E1 area located between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Maaleh Adumim. The move would effectively cut off Palestinians in East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and divide the occupied Palestinian territory into two.
Israel also announced withholding of the December installment of tax revenues amounting 460 million shekels ($120 million) to the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli move followed Thursday's U.N. General Assembly vote upgrading Palestine's current "permanent observer" status at the world body to that of a "non-member observer state" despite stiff opposition from the United States and Israel.
The Israeli announcements had evoked strong international criticism, with several world leaders warning that the move would undermine ongoing efforts to restart the currently-stalled Middle East peace talks. Besides, several EU nations, including Britain, France, Spain, Denmark and Sweden summoned Israeli Ambassadors to lodge their formal protests at the settlement expansion plans.
Further, close ally the United States urged Israel to "reconsider" its decision, with White House spokesman Jay Carney saying: "We urge Israeli leaders to reconsider these unilateral decisions and exercise restraint as these actions are counter-productive and make it harder to resume direct negotiations."
Notably, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had described the Israeli decision as a counter-productive move that would undermine the ongoing international efforts to restart the currently dead-locked peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. She also criticized the Palestinians for seeking enhanced U.N. status, and reaffirmed continued U.S. support for Israel.
Earlier, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed "grave concern and disappointment" at the Israeli decision, stressing that it "would represent an almost fatal blow to remaining chances of securing a two-state solution."
Other prominent international figures who openly criticized the Israeli decision included EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton and British Foreign Secretary William Hague. Also, nations like Russia, Germany and France also voiced their objections to the Israeli plans.
Notably, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas returned to a hero's welcome in the West Bank on Sunday after the successful U.N. vote. Noting that the development reflected the international community's continued support for the Palestinian cause, Abbas called for reconciliation among the various Palestinian groups to advance the aspirations of the Palestinian people.
The elevated status of a "non-member observer state" allows the Palestinians to participate in debates at the U.N. But it does not provide an automatic entry into U.N. agencies or provide any guarantees in that regard. However, outcome of the U.N. vote amounts to an implicit recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Incidentally, the Security Council had rejected a Palestinian bid last year for a full U.N. membership for a Palestine State with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital. Palestine was later admitted as a member-state to the UNESCO despite objections from Israel and the U.S.
Palestinians believe that the non-member observer state status would eventually lead to Palestine's recognition as a U.N. Member-State. Such a development would allow them to haul Israel to the International Criminal Court and other international forums over issues relating to the 2008 invasion of the Gaza Strip as well as building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Israel rejected the U.N. vote as "one-sided," stressing that the Palestinians' U.N. bid violated peace accords under which the Palestinian Authority was established states clearly that a Palestinian state should emerge only as a result of bilateral negotiations.
Currently, the U.S.-mediated peace talks are deadlocked over Israel's refusal to extend a construction freeze in the West Bank after its expiry on September 26, 2010. Palestinians insist they will return to direct peace talks only if Israel stops settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Israel has settled about 500,000 Jews in more than 100 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the 1967 Six-Day War. However, its annexation of the captured area is not recognized by the international community, which considers building settlements in the occupied land as illegal.
A previously agreed 2003 peace plan mediated by the Middle East Quartet, comprising the U.N., European Union, the United States and Russia, requires Israel to dismantle settlement outposts erected since 2001 and freeze all settlement activities, while Palestinians are required to halt all violence against Israel. It is ultimately expected to lead to an independent Palestinian State alongside Israel with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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