European allies blast Israel over settlements

A construction worker works on a new housing unit in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, in this Nov. 2, 2011 file photo. / AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner

Updated 4:22 p.m. ET

PARIS Israel's decision to approve 3,000 new homes on occupied territory drew sharp condemnation from European allies on Monday, with at least three governments summoning ambassadors to express their disapproval of an action they say undermines an already-troubled peace process.

The Israeli envoy to Paris was called to a meeting late Monday morning, according to a statement from the French foreign ministry spokesman, Philippe Lalliot. France, which was the first major European country to announce support for the Palestinian effort to win recognition at the U.N., also sent a letter to the Israeli government, calling the settlement decision "a considerable obstacle to the two-state solution, by compromising the territorial integrity of a future Palestinian state."

Britain and Sweden also summoned the Israeli ambassadors, and Germany said the decision would hurt Israel's ability to negotiate a long-term peace agreement.

None of the European governments openly threatened any concrete measures to punish Israel.

Britain denied a report in the Haaretz newspaper that London and Paris were considering recalling their ambassadors for consultation in a symbolic but potent expression of dissent.

British foreign officials told CBS News Monday that "the contents of this article are pure speculation."

France's foreign ministry also denied that it was considering recalling its ambassadors, saying, "We have other ways to show our disapproval."

• U.S. struggles to get Israel, Palestinians to talks
• Israel approves new West Bank settlement construction day after U.N. vote
• Palestinian vote at U.N. brings recognition, but is far cry from statehood
• Israel going ahead with expansion in warning to Palestinian statehood bid

Nevertheless Senior Palestinian official Nabil Shaath praised the Europeans for taking action.

"We've been expecting this kind of behavior for a long time," Shaath said. "For this to come from France and England is very beneficial to us. We highly appreciate it and we are hoping the U.S. will follow their lead."

The United Nations General Assembly last week overwhelmingly endorsed an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, territories Israel captured in the 1967 war. The vote amounted to an international condemnation of Israeli settlements in the areas claimed by the Palestinians.

The following day, Israel defiantly said it would start drawing up plans to build thousands of settlement homes, including the first-ever development on a crucial corridor east of Jerusalem that would allow a contiguous Palestinian state.

Britain, which abstained in the U.N. vote, called on Israel to reverse the decision as it summoned Israel's ambassador Daniel Taub to the Foreign Office.

On Saturday Foreign Secretary William Hague called Israeli settlements illegal under international law, and said the approved new building "would undermine Israel's international reputation and create doubts about its stated commitment to achieving peace with the Palestinians.

"The U.K. strongly advises the Israeli government to reverse this decision," Hague said.

Germany, which also abstained, expressed its concern on Monday but declined to say whether it had taken any direct measures in response. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due in Berlin on Wednesday for talks scheduled well ahead of the U.N. vote and a dinner with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Steffen Seibert, Merkel's spokesman, said Germany took a "very negative view" of the settlement announcement, which he said undermined Israel's negotiations for a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

[verifabletruthmatters]

Israel has had more than 60 years to prove itself. It's the same religious war the Rabbis started in 1850 to steal back Palestine ignorantly believing Palestine to be the Promised Land. They willingly reduce a Consciousness aligned with 100 BIL galaxies headed to Infinity, to a moron who cares about real estate in the Mideast, on a speck of dust called Earth. There are 1400 planets in the "habitable zone" of their star like our Sun, and 33 of them are the same size as Earth. In other words, there's nothing special about Earth, except that the human species is doing a great job failing the real Program. "Take basic Understandings, Kindergarten material like the TEN COMMANDMENTS, and raise them to the level of the Universal LAWS that govern God's World", to reach an Awareness Level known as THE PROMISED LAND". The message for centuries has been to stop violating the LAWS, because Physics doesn't tolerate being violated. It's the cause of every accident and virtually every tragedy on the planet. EVERYTHING has to be translated to a function of Energy governed by Physics. Teachers who know what they're doing don't leave behind TEACHINGS that are a violation of the Universal LAWS that govern God's World. Fundamentalists are HUGE VIOLATORS of verifiable TRUTH, therefore HUGE VIOLATORS of the associated Universal LAWS that govern the Universe, therefore HUGE VIOLATORS of God's World.

Which is exactly where we find 6 million genocidal Jews in a nation of hypocrites called Israel, pushing a pack of bogus and violating religious ignorance, easily disproved. They ignorantly believe they can force the SECOND COMING by stealing back a piece of real estate, when they've spent centuries butchering the TEN COMMANDMENTS. They ignorantly believe they are "A CHOSEN PEOPLE" when Physics is running the show & it doesn't play favorites. A Consciousness aligned with 100 BILLION galaxies going to Infinity isn't going to violate the Physics running the show. The Consciousness that was Jesus, left the area around Jerusalem and spent 17 years studying under THE MASTERS in Tibet, where he left behind TEACHINGS on Reincarnation that have been stripped from the 100 versions of a very adulterated, highly politicized book, called the Bible. The current texts read nothing like the original documents, which in the case of the New Testament are 300 years old. Until humans are willing to translate the most original documents of any Sacred Text to a function of Energy governed by Physics, they're not going to have a clue what the TEACHER was trying to say. Jesus spent the last 300 years traveling among the Indians of North and South America leaving behind the same TEACHINGS as he did in the Mideast. If... there was going to be such a thing as "A CHOSEN PEOPLE" the title would go to the Indians, then to the people of Tibet, NOT the Jewish People.

Pro-Israeli, Jewish, Judge Goldstone chose 3 dozen war crimes out of 3600 atrocities committed by Israel in Jan 2009, which were released in the Goldstone Report, because he has a long history of investigating war crimes in Rwanda, Cosovo, Africa, etc.(Bill Moyers Journal 10-23-09) We have Separation of Church & State in the US because religions have a long history of destroying, causing most wars, and being incessant about pushing their violating ignorance. Which is all that Israel is--scheming, manipulating, lies, deceit, betrayal, theft and genocide--wasting BILLIONS in US taxpayer money. 17 million people were harmed by "white-supremacist, racists" in Nazi Germany. It was an atrocity for 17 million people, not just 6 million Jews. The Jews were already engaged in their "religious Supremacy ignorance" in 1850, decades before Germany ever happened and Germany knew what England and the Zionists were up to. Israel is backed by 50 million Evangelical Fundamentalists in the US pushing a completely different pack of violating, religious ignorance around the SECOND COMING, The End of Days, their highly violating interpretations of the Book of Revelations, and being taken into heaven in THE RAPTURE. That's why Israel gets away with murder, theft, scheming, manipulation, and incessant lies to push violating ignorance and obnoxious abuse. There could be peace in the Mideast. The US & England are responsible for creating the atrocity and abomination that is Israel. Cut off all aid, force them to the table for one discussion: how to move them out. Give them the ability to immigrate to US and England. (The Israeli Lobby by John Mearsheimer, "The Mideast: A Century of Conflict" by NPR, Morning Edition, Sept 2007 a 7 part series w 13 good references, The Palestinians by Jonathan Dimbleby, The Accidental Empire by Gorshum Goremberg, Pity The Nation: Israeli Atrocities in Lebanon, Against The Tide by Lincoln Chaffee, Bill Moyers Journal 11-30-07 w John Hagee head of Christians United For Israel (CUFI), NPR, Fresh Air, 11-24-09 &12-6-09; 11-29-11; 8-24 & 10-3-2011 on New Apostolic Reformation)

[cbsblogger]

Why not a one state solution as we have in the USA? We have no special state reserved for Jews or Muslims or Protestants or Catholics. We live together. No ethnic group should be permitted to enforce their racist superiority on others.

[Jesus_to_ground_control]

Good for you Israel!

I am so happy that Israel is creating jobs for the Palestinians by building apartment buildings for them. You are the best Israel!

[wfw3536]

It is really great that Obama is supportive of Israel and will stand behind them. In Obama's campaign he made it clear that the US will always support Israel. I am sure that is why so many Jewish folks voted for Obama.

[eroteme2]

Ah yes. 'A considerable obstacle to a two-state solution'. Let's see now, how long has it previously been that a two-state solution has been the target? There must not be delay. It would be right around the corner except for Israel's creating further delay. Some one may have once said, 'it takes two to tango' or something like that. I believe Hillary urged the parties to get this settled quickly now, and she means now.

[Ulgnud]

So they want Israel to give up land won in the war. Then Germany should also get their land back lost in two wars using similar arguments. Plenty of other borders have shifted after wars as well. Can't have it for one and not the other. Meddling in the affairs over there causes nothing but trouble. Stay out of it.

[humanrights115]

Slow news and gorgor, you are wasting our time. I want a free world. The Radical Islam wants to take control everywhere. We have to stand with Israel.

[Lindag20]

Obviously the Europeans are tired of Israel and their provocative behavior. If the US would stop funding this nonsense Israel would knock if off and learn how to get along with the neighbors.

[Robadude32]

Funny thing Linda - you never heard the world condemn Stalin when he was murdering MILLIONS of his own people like the way you hear the rest of the condemn Israel. Keep your damn mouth shut!

[humanrights115]

if it goes down, we all go down.

[humanrights115]

Well, reasonable is right. GorGor and slownews, it seems that you don't want to admit the truth.

[reasonable333]

SLOW NEWS, YOU ARE PROFESIONAL LIAR. PALESTINIANS HAS NEVER ACCEPTED THE JEWISH STATE. PALESTINIANS has only one plan: First, make some terror, cry the world and get half of israel. Step two: Throw the jews to the sea. They even not hide this plan. ISRAEL IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE AREA THAT WANT PEACE. Palestinians just want war.

[humanrights115]

Well, reasonable is right. GorGor and slownews, it seems that you don't want to admit the truth.

[HermannSchmettlapp]

TPaula-

If God-given, doesn't that make it right?

Who are you to take away from another what, in your eyes, God has chosen to give them?