The European Union is against any move by the Israeli regime to build new settler units in the occupied West Bank, a senior European diplomat says.The European Union will strongly object to any new announcements of Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, the diplomat told Israels Channel 10 on condition of anonymity.
The expression of opposition came after reports said that Tel Aviv would announce plans to build 1,400 settler units in the occupied West Bank next week.
"There will be very little understanding from the European governments to any announcement of construction in the disputed territories," the EU diplomat added.
Tel Avivs announcement of the plans is expected to spark outrage across the world.
Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian chief negotiator in the so-called peace talks, said the move would destroy the process.
"We in the Palestinian leadership would immediately present our application for membership in 63 international organizations, among them the International Criminal Court," Erekat stated.
The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.
The United Nations and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbids construction on occupied lands.
By Press TV
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