UK summons Israeli ambassador over settlement plan

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A Palestinian labourer (R) is seen through a window at a construction site in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim, near Jerusalem December 2, 2012. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

A Palestinian labourer (R) is seen through a window at a construction site in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim, near Jerusalem December 2, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Baz Ratner

LONDON | Mon Dec 3, 2012 11:08am GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Monday it had summoned the Israeli ambassador in London to express its concerns over Israel's plans to expand Jewish settlements after the Palestinians won de facto U.N. recognition of statehood.

"The Israeli Ambassador to London, Daniel Taub, has been formally summoned to the Foreign Office this morning by the Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt. The Minister set out the depth of the UK's concerns," a Foreign Office spokesman said.

"Any decision about any other measures the UK might take will depend on the outcome of our discussions with the Israeli government and with international partners including the US and European Union," he added.

Israel said on Friday it would build 3,000 more settler homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas Palestinians want for a future state.

Britain joined France at the weekend in condemning the plan, saying it would make it harder to achieve a resolution through a so-called "two state solution", with Jerusalem as a shared capital, of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

On Thursday the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine, in a diplomatic setback for Israel.

(Reporting by Tim Castle; editing by Stephen Addison)
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Comments (3)
allritejack wrote:
Britain has a long history of betraying the Jewish people, including taking 80% of the land allocated to them by the League of Nations. This was followed by the turning back of boatloads of Jews to face the death camps of Hitler, then severe immigration restrictions after the war. In spite of all this, in the end Britain will pay a price for their betrayal and Israel will triumph. Says who?- Jehovah.

Dec 03, 2012 4:17pm GMT  --  Report as abuse
Wvandamme wrote:
In 1917 the then British government gave Palestine, a region they at that time not even occupied, to Zionist European settlers. Now after 95 years suddenly the British government complains. Why? Because they haven’t stolen enough?

Dec 03, 2012 7:08pm GMT  --  Report as abuse
Wvandamme wrote:
altirejack: Considering your claims this Jehovah of yours must be a very smart man. A storyteller?

Dec 03, 2012 7:46pm GMT  --  Report as abuse
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