Middle East News
EU's Ashton raps Israel for latest demolition in East Jerusalem
Jan 9, 2011, 20:19 GMT
Brussels - Settlement building on occupied Palestinian territory is illegal, the European Union reminded Israel on Sunday, after a historic hotel in East Jerusalem was partly demolished to make way for a Jewish apartment complex.
'I strongly condemn this morning's demolition of the Shepherd Hotel and the planned construction of a new illegal settlement,' the EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
'I reiterate that settlements are illegal under international law, undermine trust between the parties and constitute an obstacle to peace,' Ashton added.
She reiterated that 'the EU does not recognize' the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel, and also expressed concern for recent violence in the West Bank, amid escalating Israeli-Palestinian tension.
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