Britain labels Israeli settlement ‘vandalism’
LONDON — Britain condemned Israeli settlements yesterday as "deliberate vandalism" of efforts to establish a Palestinian state, bolstering Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas as negotiators attempt to revive moribund peace talks.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's comments were some of Britain's strongest yet on the Middle East's most intractable conflict, and come as Abbas tours Europe while negotiators from both sides undertake initial discussions on resuming full talks.
The exploratory discussions began on January 3 and followed a long break in negotiations after Abbas suspended talks 15 months ago over Israel's expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West bank, where Palestinians want to found a state.
All parties to the talks have accepted the ultimate goal of a "two-state solution", which would see a Palestinian state established alongside Israel. The sides remain divided over its borders, the fate of Palestinian refugees and other issues.
Israel says such issues can be resolved only at talks with no preconditions. Palestinians say Israel must first halt settlement building, which they believe moves the goalposts while talks are under way and gives Israel incentive to stall.
"Once you place physical facts on the ground which make it impossible to deliver what everyone has for years agreed is the ultimate destination, then you do immense damage," Clegg told reporters during a visit to London by Abbas, referring to settlements interfering with the two-state solution.
"It's an act of deliberate vandalism to the basic premise upon which negotiations have taken place for years and that is why we have expressed our concerns as a government in increasingly forceful terms," he said.
He prefaced his comments by saying there was no stronger supporter of Israel than him- self.
In February last year, Britain and almost all other members of the United Nations Security Council backed a resolution condemning settlement building as illegal and a major obstacle to peace.
The resolution was vetoed by the United States.
Abbas, who is also due to visit Berlin and Moscow, welcomed the deputy prime minister's comments.
"This is exactly what we had wanted to hear officially from government of the United Kingdom," he said, speaking next to Clegg. He reiterated his call for a halt to settlement building.
Abbas did not say why he was considering returning to the negotiating table now despite continued settlement building.
"If there was any time for real progress, then it is now at a time when so much change and transformation has taken place throughout the region," Clegg said.
Abbas said he had received no new proposals from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that Palestinian negotiators were still scheduled to meet their Israeli counterparts two or three more times. — Reuters