The United States on Monday denounced new Israeli settlement plans announced last week, saying they risk derailing the peace process and are contrary to U.S. policy. "The United States opposes all unilateral actions, including West Bank settlement activity and housing construction in East Jerusalem (Al-Quds), as they complicate efforts to resume direct bilateral negotiations, and risk prejudging the outcome of those negotiations," the State Department said in a statement. "This includes building in the E-1 area, as this area is particularly sensitive and construction there would be especially damaging to efforts to achieve a two-state solution," the department wrote. "We have made clear to the Israeli government that such action is contrary to U.S. policy. The United States and the international community expect all parties to play a constructive role in efforts to achieve peace," the statement said. "We urge the parties to cease unilateral actions and take concrete steps to return to direct negotiations so all the issues can be discussed and the goal of two states living side by side in peace and security can be realized," the department said. Israel announced Friday it was planning to build an additional 3,000 settler homes in the occupied West Bank to punish the Palestinians for winning U.N. recognition of a state of Palestine in territories Israel captured in 1967. Israel also said it would start planning work on the especially sensitive E-1 piece of land outside Jerusalem (Al-Quds) that it has refrained from developing because of U.S. pressure. Earlier on Monday, four European countries summoned their Israeli ambassadors to denounce Israel's latest settlement construction effort. While Europe generally considers all Israeli settlement construction illegal, the summoning of ambassadors in France, Britain, Spain, and Sweden to accuse Israel of undermining already troubled peace efforts was an unusually strong expression of displeasure.
