Israel holds firm on settlements as world outcry grows

[polly7]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/israel-holds-firm-on-settlements-as-world-outcry-grows/article5952301/

Israel showed no sign of changing its stance even as Australia became the latest nation to summon the Israeli ambassador to protest plans to build 3,000 new settler homes in a critical area of the West Bank near Jerusalem.

Late on Monday, Israel – which is in the middle of an election campaign – said it would also revive plans for another 1,600 homes in annexed east Jerusalem.

Should construction in E1 go ahead, connecting Jerusalem with Maaleh Adumim, it will make the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state almost impossible.

“History proves that every time we insisted on our positions and were prepared to clash, the West has always capitulated, because justice was ours,” wrote Dror Eidar in the Israel HaYom freesheet, which openly backs Mr. Netanyahu.

[azurnoir]

1. PA to request ICC membership over Israeli settlements

The Palestinian Authority Wednesday repeated threats to file charges against Israel with the International Criminal Court [ICC] over plans to build housing units in E1, on the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem.

PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki said that the Palestinians' next move would be to request membership in the ICC following last month's UN General Assembly vote in favor of granting a Palestinian state the status of non-member observer.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=295678