ANKARA
Britain, France, Sweden and Australia summoned Israeli envoys to protest Israel's decision, while US, Russia, China, Germany, UN, EU and Arab League expressed their disapproval and urged Israel to refrain from construction.
Britain summoned Isreal's envoy in London on Monday but its severe response was expected to be cleared after meeting with Israel, US and EU.
British foreign secretary, William Hague on Monday expressed "extreme concern" at the plan to create 3,000 new homes in the key strategic area of Palestinian territory would seriously undermine the Middle East peace process, and corrode Israel's international reputation". Hague said, "Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and undermine trust between the parties. If implemented, these plans would alter the situation on the ground on a scale that makes the two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, increasingly difficult to achieve. They would undermine Israel's international reputation and create doubts about its stated commitment to achieving peace with the Palestinians. The UK strongly advises the Israeli government to reverse this decision. The window for a two-state solution is closing, and we need urgent efforts by the parties and by the international community to achieve a return to negotiations, not actions which will make that harder".
Speaking after Israel's envoy in Paris was summoned to the French foreign ministry, French President Francois Hollande said on Monday he was "extremely concerned" by Israel's announcement that it would build 3,000 new settler homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, after a de facto UN recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Sweden has summoned the Israeli ambassador in Stockholm to a meeting, the foreign ministry said on Monday, as governments across Europe acted to express concern over Israel's plans to expand Jewish settlements on occupied land. Swedish FM Carld Bildt said they protested the decision and EU countries would possibly meet to negotiate the issue.
Australian FM Bob Carr said on Tuesday they summoned the envoy to convey their disappointment. Carr said those actions were making it harder for the negotiations to continue.
-US, Russia, China, Germany, UN, EU, Arab League disapproved-
The US on Monday harshly criticized Israel, over new settlement plans in areas the Palestinians claim for a future state and urged it to rethink them.
The White House and State Department said the plans run counter to longstanding U.S. policy, particularly as they relate to a sensitive piece of land outside Jerusalem known as E1.
"We reiterate our long standing opposition to Israeli settlement activity and East Jerusalem construction" White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters. "We oppose all unilateral actions, including settlement activity and housing construction as they complicate efforts to resume direct, bilateral negotiations and risk prejudging the outcome of those negotiations and this including building in the so called E-1 area".
"We urge Israeli leaders to reconsider these unilateral decisions and exercise restraint as these actions are counterproductive and make it harder to resume direct negotiations to achieve a two-state solution" he said.
US State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner said the E1 plans are "especially damaging" to prospects for a resumption in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
On the E1 area, "area is particularly sensitive and construction there would be especially damaging to efforts to achieve a two-state solution" Toner said in a statement.
Martin Nesirky, spokesperson for UN SG, said that the decision was illegal under the international law and disappointed SG Ban Ki-Moon deeply.
German PM Angela Merkel called on Israel to relinquish from the plan, while spokesperson for the government Steffen Seibert said the government deeply concerned on the plan.
Russia announced the project was illegal and they did not acknowledge the decision.
Beijing administration announced they opposed the decision.
Arab League condemned Israel and called UNSC to take preventive measures.
-Israel's announcement-
Israel on Friday announced that it would move ahead on plans to build 3,000 settler homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem on territory the Palestinians claim as theirs. It also said it would begin planning work in E1, where construction would essentially end hopes for an eventual Palestinian state to be contiguous.
Building in E1 would sever the link between the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim for a future capital. It would also cut off the northern part of the West Bank from its southern flank.
The Palestinians say construction in that territory would kill any hope for establishing a viable state of Palestine.
