Israel’s Jerusalem plans ratchet up Mideast tension
Palestinians to launch UN appeal
JERUSALEM – Palestinians and Israelis hardened their positions Wednesday over a contentious new settlement push around Jerusalem, with Israel going full throttle on plans to develop the area and the Palestinians trying to block it through an appeal to the UN Security Council.
The settlement push — Israel’s retaliation for the Palestinians’ success in winning UN recognition of a de facto state — has touched off an escalating international showdown. Palestinians claim the construction would deal a death blow to Mideast peace hopes.
Even Israel’s staunchest allies have been outraged by the move, feeding speculation they might squeeze Israel more than usual to back down on its construction plans.
The UN move came last week, with the General Assembly recognizing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip — territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel, which rejects a return to its 1967 lines, says borders with a future Palestine should be resolved through negotiations.
Although the Israelis say construction could be years away, the settlement plans have sent a message that within these UNrecognized borders, Israel remains in firm control. The project is contentious because of its strategic location.
The plans include 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and intentions to press ahead with two other projects that could drive a wedge between East Jerusalem, the Palestinians’ desired capital, and its West Bank hinterland.
International condemnation was harsher than usual, with some of Israel’s closest European allies, including Italy and the European Union on Wednesday, calling in Israeli ambassadors for rebukes. The issue was expected to be high on Germany’s agenda during a visit to Berlin by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Palestinians said they would leverage their newfound UN status to seek a Security Council resolution to halt the Jerusalem-area plans.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he was determined to block the settlement building near Jerusalem with all legal and diplomatic means.
The Palestinian representative to the United Nations has contacted UN chief Ban Ki-moon and the head of the Security Council to sound out the possibilities for a council resolution against settlements, he said.