Israel gives European envoys dressing down over settlement criticism

Israel’s relations with several key European states took a turn for the worse yesterday when foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman summoned the ambassadors of Britain, France, Italy and Spain to the foreign ministry in Jerusalem for a diplomatic dressing down following criticism over Israeli settlement construction.

The previous day the Israeli ambassadors in these countries had been summoned to hear European criticism over Israel’s announcement last week of 1,400 new tenders for settler homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu dismissed the international critics of Israel’s West Bank settlements as “hypocrites”, and insisted the claim that settlements were an obstacle to peace was “bogus”.

“When did the EU call in the Palestinian ambassadors to complain about the incitement that calls for Israel’s destruction? When did the Palestinians get called in to hear complaints about the fact that security officers in the Palestinian security forces are participating in terrorist attacks against innocent Israelis. I think it’s time to stop this hypocrisy.”

Mr Lieberman, who in recent weeks has adopted more moderate positions and spoken out in favour of the peace process, instructed that it be made clear to the ambassadors that their “consistent one-sided position against Israel and for the Palestinians” was unacceptable. He said Israel was making great efforts to enable the dialogue with the Palestinians to continue.

Mr Lieberman said the position of these countries was unbalanced, ignored the reality on the ground and greatly hurt the chances of reaching an arrangement between the sides.