Israel's plans to expand the existing Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territories have drawn severe criticism from across the globe and at least three European countries have recalled Israeli ambassadors to express their disapproval of the action.
According to BBC report, UK and France have summoned Israeli ambassadors in an act of disapproval of the Israeli move to approve 3,000 new homes on the occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The British government opined that this would cast doubts on Israel's stated commitment to achieving peace with the Palestinians.
"We deplore the recent Israeli government decision to build 3,000 new housing units and unfreeze development in the E1 block. This threatens the viability of the two state solution," the UK Foreign Office said in a statement. "We have called on the Israeli government to reverse this decision. 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."
The Israeli envoy to Paris was called to convey the French disapproval of the decision, a statement from the French foreign ministry spokesman, Philippe Lalliot said. France has also sent a letter to the Israeli government stating the settlement move is "a considerable obstacle to the two-state solution," Associated Press reported.
Meanwhile, many other countries have openly opposed the controversial decision by the Benjamin Netanyahu government including Sweden, Germany, Russia and China. While Sweden summoned the Israeli ambassador, China and Germany expressed their concern over the issue said they oppose the move.
"China has always firmly opposed Israel's construction of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory of East Jerusalem and the West Bank," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon expressed "grave concern and disappointment" over the issue and said it would represent an almost fatal blow to remaining chances of securing a two-state solution.
