UK pledges strong action against Israel if settlement plan gets green light

Published on 03/12/2012 11:02

BRITAIN warned Israel today that there will be a “strong reaction” if goes ahead with fresh plans to expand settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Officials described reports that the British ambassador could be withdrawn if the scheme for 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem goes ahead as “speculation”.

However, a Foreign Office spokesman made clear that they believe the Israeli government should think again before going ahead with the plan which threatens to wreck any prospect of reviving the stalled Middle East peace process.

“The Foreign Secretary has consistently made clear that settlement building, such as the recent Israeli government decision to build 3,000 new Israeli housing units, threatens a two-state solution and make progress through negotiations harder to achieve,” he said.

“We have called on the Israeli government to re-consider. We have told the Israeli government that if they go ahead with their decision there will be a strong reaction.”