EU reiterates condemnation of new Jewish settlements

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton Friday repeated her condemnation of new Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and called on Israel to stop the settlement activity. "It is with deep regret that, once again, I received information of the publicly stated intention of the Israeli government to continue settlement expansion in East Jerusalem," she said in a statement. "The EU has repeatedly called on Israel to end all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001," she noted. "Settlement activity threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution and undermines ongoing efforts to resume negotiations," added Ashton.