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In defiance of USA, International community and the whole peace process, Israeli authorities gave preliminary approval to a plan to construct 900 new housing units in West Bank on territory it controlled in 1967 and annexed to Jerusalem Municipality.
White House Robert Gibbs said he is extremely upset as Israeli authorities approved building new housing units in east Jerusalem and accused Israel of complicating peace process with the Palestinians. To that, US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said that Israe’s support which comes along with the efforts USA exerts in order to launch negotiations disappoints the USA and complicates these efforts.
In New York, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called Israel to draw back its decision of building the new housing units which harms Palestinian people rights. Moos also urged Israel to end the siege is imposes on Gaza Strip and to stop evacuation and demolishing operations. In addition Israel shall immediately halt building the separation wall, a UN statement said.
Britain criticized Israel decision saying that it complicates peace process. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband spokeswoman said that the secretary was very clear while saying that reaching any credible solution shall include Jerusalem as a joint capital. On the Arab level, Jordan and KSA decried the Israeli decision and said that it is provocative and it impedes peace.
On the Palestinian level, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat decried the Israeli decision, Erekat said in a joint press conference with French FM Bernard Kouchner in Amman on the sidelines of Kouchener’s meeting with the head of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas that the new decision shows undoubtedly that the Israeli government wants to impose a status quo regarding colonial activities in East Jerusalem and all the Palestinian territory before starting any negotiations. To that Erekat talked about establishing a Palestinian state.
Kouchner said that it is impossible to carry on peace process without the presence of President Abbas adding that the french stance in this regard is well known.
My country does not call to start negotiations from zero. We are asking to carry on negotiations until the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state that lives in peace beside Israel, Kouchner said.
On the Israeli level, from Buenos Aires, Israel President Shimon Peres called, Palestinian Authority on Tuesday to prove that it can control its people before seeking Security Council’s acknowledgement of a Palestinian state.
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