Israel: EU report may hurt relations

From Jerusalem Post Nov. 27, 2005 0:31 Updated Nov. 27, 2005 8:20 By TOVAH LAZAROFF ...

An unofficial European Union draft report which fails to recognize Israel's right to a 'united capital' could harm the newly warming relations with Europe, Israeli officials warned on Saturday.

'It would damage the new friendship we have with the EU,' said a senior government official.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev deplored the unbalanced draft policy statement on east Jerusalem, calling it a 'throwback to the past,' and explained that if it were approved it 'would have repercussions on the way we perceive the European involvement here,' he said.

...The draft report of an analysis on east Jerusalem, being prepared for policy adoption by the EU's External Relations Council at its December 12 meeting, was obtained by The Jerusalem Post on Friday as the EU participated in the opening of the border crossing at Rafah.

...The report refers to the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Ramot, French Hill, East Talpiot, Gilo, Pisgat Ze'ev, and Har Homa as "illegal settlements."

...The report also focuses solely on Palestinian issues regarding east Jerusalem and does not honor any Israeli claims to it or Israel's declaration that it is building the security barrier to prevent terrorist attacks. The report noted that the construction was in defiance of the 2004 ruling of the International

...The draft report alleged that Israel's activities in east Jerusalem "are in violation of both the road map obligations and international law." It warned that Israeli actions "are reducing the possibility of reaching a final status agreement on Jerusalem and demonstrate a clear Israeli intention to turn the annexation of east Jerusalem into concrete fact."
EU officials on Friday refused to confirm the document's authenticity or to comment specifically on the draft itself. But the document is widely believed to be a draft of the EU's report on east Jerusalem.

Emma Udwin, spokeswoman for EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, told the Post on Friday that the EU has long been concerned about east Jerusalem, and made a statement to that effect at its council meeting last week. She added that the EU "feels very strongly that while everyone is thinking about Gaza that we do not lose sight of east Jerusalem" and the problems created by the route of the "separation barrier" as well as Israel's continued "settlement activity." She said that 25 foreign ministers belong to the council. "You have to conclude that 25 foreign ministers on Monday reached these conclusions because these are serious issues that need to be addressed."...