France condemns approval of “Givat Hamatos A” settlement project – French MoFEA Press release/Non-UN document

Israel – New settlement project (December 20, 2012)

France strongly condemns the Israeli authorities’ approval yesterday of the so-called “Givat Hamatos A” settlement project comprising 2,610 new homes.

This illegal decision is all the more serious because it amounts to the creation of a new settlement which, once completed, will isolate the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Safafa from the rest of East Jerusalem. It therefore threatens the viability of the two-state solution whereby Jerusalem is destined to become the capital of both Israel and Palestine.

The unprecedented resurgence in settlement projects is a provocation that further undermines the trust needed to resume negotiations and leads us to question Israel’s commitment to the two-state solution.

France and its European partners at the UN Security Council yesterday expressed their grave concern and their strong opposition in the face of these negative developments.