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UK summons Israel ambassador over settlements UK government warns Israel over settlements
(about 5 hours later)
The UK has summoned Israel's ambassador in London over the plans to expand settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories. The UK has warned Israel that its plan to expand settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories "threatens the viability" of peace.
The Foreign Office warned of a "strong reaction", but dismissed reports that the British ambassador in Tel Aviv could be withdrawn. Daniel Taub, ambassador to London, was summoned to talks with Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt.
Israel authorised 3,000 additional housing units a day after the UN voted to upgrade Palestinian status. This followed Israel authorising 3,000 more housing units the day after the United Nations voted to upgrade Palestinian status.
The UN expressed "disappointment", but Israel has vowed to continue building. Mr Burt said the government felt "disappointment" at Israel's action.
The country's ambassador to London, Daniel Taub, has been called to the Foreign Office for a meeting with minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt. Two decades of on-off negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority have failed to produce a permanent settlement.
'Reconsider' 'Strategic interests'
The government said Mr Burt would "set out the depth of the UK's concern about decisions concerning all settlement building". Many countries, including the UK, argue that having two separate Israeli and Palestinian states - the "two-state solution" - is needed to ensure peace in the region.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The Foreign Secretary [William Hague] has consistently made it very clear that settlement building, such as the recent Israeli government decision to build 3,000 new housing units, threatens the two-state solution and makes progress through negotiations harder to achieve. The UK abstained in Friday's UN vote on upgrading Palestinian status, but the organisation's General Assembly backed the move by 138 votes to nine. This allows the Palestinians to take part in assembly debates, but it does not confer full UN member status.
"We have called on the Israeli government to reconsider. We have told the Israeli government that if they go ahead with their decision, then there will be a strong reaction."
The British and French governments have made their displeasure at Israel's latest settlement announcement clear, and there are hints that further steps could be taken.The British and French governments have made their displeasure at Israel's latest settlement announcement clear, and there are hints that further steps could be taken.
The threat to build in the area designated E1, east of Jerusalem, has especially annoyed Western governments - indeed, successive US administrations have been given assurances by Israel that it would not build there. Construction in E1 would effectively cut the West Bank into two and form a settlement barrier to the eastern approaches of Jerusalem.The threat to build in the area designated E1, east of Jerusalem, has especially annoyed Western governments - indeed, successive US administrations have been given assurances by Israel that it would not build there. Construction in E1 would effectively cut the West Bank into two and form a settlement barrier to the eastern approaches of Jerusalem.
Indications from Israel had suggested that its initial response to the UN General Assembly vote granting the Palestinians permanent observer status would be largely rhetorical. There's a sense in the air that the diplomatic climate is changing but no real evidence as yet that Washington - the critical player - is again ready to invest in the elusive quest for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.Indications from Israel had suggested that its initial response to the UN General Assembly vote granting the Palestinians permanent observer status would be largely rhetorical. There's a sense in the air that the diplomatic climate is changing but no real evidence as yet that Washington - the critical player - is again ready to invest in the elusive quest for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
The spokesman added: "Any decision about any other measures the UK might take will depend on the outcome of our discussions with the Israeli government and with international partners including the US and European Union." Israel announced its building plans for the "E1" area between East Jerusalem and the West Bank a day after the UN's decision.
The Israeli envoy to Paris was also summoned to a meeting on Monday morning, French foreign ministry spokesman, Philippe Lalliot, said in a statement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed international criticism of Israel's settlement plans, saying: "We will carry on building in Jerusalem and in all the places that are on the map of Israel's strategic interests."
However, following his meeting with the ambassador, Mr Burt said: "Mr Taub was summoned following the Israeli decisions to build 3,000 new housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, to unfreeze planning in the area known as E1 and to withhold tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority.
"I set out the depth of the UK's concern about these decisions and I called on the Israeli government to reverse them. The settlements plan in particular has the potential to alter the situation on the ground on a scale that threatens the viability of a two-state solution.
"I also made clear that the strength of our reaction stems from our disappointment that the Israeli Government has not heeded the calls that we and others had made for Israel to avoid reacting to the UN General Assembly resolution in a way that undermines the Palestinian Authority or a return to talks."
The Foreign Office earlier dismissed speculation that the UK's ambassador in Tel Aviv could be withdrawn.
Meanwhile, the Israeli envoy to Paris was also summoned to a meeting.
The BBC's Peter Biles says the UK is coordinating closely with France in sending clear warning signals to Israel, but he says a suggestion in the Israeli press that Britain and France may recall their ambassadors in protest seems unlikely at this stage.The BBC's Peter Biles says the UK is coordinating closely with France in sending clear warning signals to Israel, but he says a suggestion in the Israeli press that Britain and France may recall their ambassadors in protest seems unlikely at this stage.
The UK abstained in Friday's UN vote on upgrading the Palestinian status, but the organisation's General Assembly backed the move by 138 votes to nine.
Israel announced its building plans for the "E1" area between East Jerusalem and the West Bank on Saturday.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Palestinians in East Jerusalem could be completely cut off from the rest of the West Bank by the proposed development.
But, at a meeting on Sunday of the Israeli cabinet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Palestinian campaign at the UN as a "gross violation" of previous agreements with Israel.
He brushed off international criticism of Israel's settlement plans, saying: "We will carry on building in Jerusalem and in all the places that are on the map of Israel's strategic interests."
Two decades of on-off negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority have failed to produce a permanent settlement, with the latest round of direct negotiations breaking down in 2010.