Israel slams EU stance over settlements construction

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Thursday the European Union (EU) as “hypocrisy” after four European states summoned Israeli ambassadors to their countries over Israel’s recent construction plan for 1,400 new housing units in the West Bank and east Jerusalem settlement, local media reported.

“The EU should end its hypocrisy over condemning Israeli settlements,” the prime minister told foreign journalists. “When did the EU call in the Palestinian ambassadors to complain about incitement that calls for Israel’s destruction?”

Britain, France, Italy and Spain summoned the Israeli ambassadors to their countries, delivering a stern stance against Israel’s latest settlements construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem settlement, the Ha’aretz daily reported on Thursday.

A senior European diplomat said the move was coordinated between the countries and the ambassadors were cautioned about the possible impacts the settlement policy would have on the faltering peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

“We made it clear that statements like these are liable to be destructive and undermine attempts to create a positive atmosphere for the negotiations,” the diplomat was quoted as saying by the Ha ‘aretz daily.

However, Netanyahu said Thursday that “It’s time to stop this hypocrisy. This imbalance doesn’t advance peace, I think it pushes peace further away,” according to local media.

The EU has vehemently opposed Israel’s settlements construction and decided last year to forbid its government organizations and privately owned companies to cooperate with Israeli companies which operate within the West Bank and east Jerusalem territories.