One day after the visit of the U.S. envoy George Mitchell, and during the visit of U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden to the region, it was clear that the indirect negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel mediated by Washington are in vain following Israel's declaration of a major new settlement project in the Jerusalem. The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had an urgent call with Mr. Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, and asked him to contact with members of the Arab countries in order to take the needed steps in response to the Israeli serious actions challenging the international will. Subsequently, Moussa invited the Arab Monitoring Committee to an emergency meeting, that may be held on the twentieth of this month, in order to discuss this Israeli resolution.
The Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat described the Israeli resolution as "a disaster added to the disasters resulting from the Israeli settlement policy, particularly that Israel is carrying out these actions during the visits of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell to the region."
Planning and Building Committee in the Israeli Interior Ministry has ratified establishing 1600 new units in the settlement (Ramat Shlomo) located on the north-east of Jerusalem between the Jewish settlement (Ramot) and Hai Shuafat.
On the other hand, the Israeli Interior Ministry hastened to announce that this resolution has nothing to do with the current visit by U.S. Vice President to Israel. He also said that the settlement is located in Jerusalem, which the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it would not be included in the temporary freeze of settlements.
According to the new plan, the settlement will expand towards the South and the East. It will also improve the roads’ network leading to the settlement and will open a new entrance to the settlement from the West.
According to the scheme, new units will be built in an area of 580 dunums. An official in the Israeli Interior Ministry said, "the plan fits the policy of the Interior Ministry which aims at improving and expanding the old neighborhoods in Jerusalem and increasing the housing units in the city."
Some analysts viewed this step as being a slap to the American administration. The Minister of the Interior could have waited two or three days until the U.S. Vice-President leaves Israel, but instead of waiting he chose to take this step during the presence of Biden in Israel, in order to prove to the U.S. administration that there are forces in Israel refusing to go forward in the peace process. "
Al-Ayam journal ( days) reported yesterday that some of the Arab Foreign Ministers have made urgent phone calls with U.S. officials over the Israeli decision. It was reported that during these calls the U.S. envoy George Mitchell was told that the Arab Monitoring Committee’s resolution stating the approval of indirect negotiations with Israel no longer exists in the light of the Israeli recent decision.
Furthermore, the White House has condemned the Israeli authorities for approving the establishment of 1600 new houses in East Jerusalem which was annexed by Israel noting to the fact that this decision comes at the wrong time especially with the visit of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. The White House spokesman Robert Gates said, “The United States condemns the decision taken by the Israeli government”. He added, neither the content nor the timing, chosen by the Israeli authorities to make this declaration, are “useful”. The U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has condemned also the Israeli decision. He believes that it " undermines the trust we need right now. " Biden said" I condemn the decision of the Israeli government to proceed with the plans of building new houses in East Jerusalem. " He added:" The content and timing of this announcement, especially with the launch of indirect Israeli- Palestinian talks, undermine the trust needed in the present time, and contradicts the constructive talks I had in Israel. "
Moreover, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the Israeli decision and he described it as not being in line with the international law. A statement, issued by his office in the United Nations stated that "the UN Secretary-General condemns the Israeli Ministry of Interior for approving the establishment of 1600 new housing units in East Jerusalem ". He added " According to the International Law, these settlements are illegal. "
It seems that the position of the United States in the region is further weakening especially as the Israeli government continues to exploit the vague vision in the U.S. foreign policy in general and towards the region in particular. The last step taken by the Israeli government proves that Israel clearly disregards the U.S. administration as it rejects any negotiation process that might take place with the Palestinians.
This lack of clarity in the American vision towards the region would result in flaming the whole region, and at best, it would lead to re-ordering the current alliances and power balances which may result in an inappropriate situation for many international parties. And therefore, sooner or later this will lead to flaming the region especially in the absence of an international force that can fill the vacuum resulting from the American lack of vision. Consequently, International players will have more freedom to rush into the area and divide it. So, time will take us back to Sykes-Picot plan and thus back to square one.
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