Settlement showdown escalating in Middle East
“WE HAVE BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY RELATIONS IN THE WEST BANK.”
JOHN BAIRD
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.
And Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Israel’s plan to build new settlements on territory claimed by the Palestinians is not helping the cause of peace in the Middle East.
Baird made his first public statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday on the controversial move by the Israelis, which was meant as retaliation after the Palestinians won greater recognition at the United Nations last week.
The Harper government has been criticized for staying virtually silent on the Israeli move, beyond a generic statement that unilateral moves by either side were not good for the prospects of peace.
Baird reiterated the gov- ernment’s heavy criticism of the Palestinian statehood bid during question period when he was asked about the settlements by the Bloc Quebecois.
But he emphasized that neither the UN vote nor the settlement announcement is helpful.
“We have been a strong supporter of economic development and security relations in the West Bank through our humanitarian and foreign aid developments, with respect to the Palestinian Authority,” said Baird.
“However, the PA’s action and provocative rhetoric at the United Nations would obviously elicit a response from Israel. Neither is helpful to advance the cause of peace and we do not support either.”
The UN’s recognition of a de facto state 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 UN-recognized borders, Israel remains in firm control. The project, known under its Israeli administrative term “E1,” is the most contentious of the new projects 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.