Netherlands condemns Israeli settlement plans

The new Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans has condemned Israel's decision to call a tender for the construction of 1,285 homes in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. "The construction of settlements in the Palestinian Territory is contrary to International Law and undermines the two-state solution," he said in a statement. The Netherlands, he added in the brief statement, will continue its efforts for a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, taking into account the concerns and interests of both parties. Observers noted that this condemnation shows a change of direction by the new Dutch coalition government which was sworn in on Monday. The previous Dutch government had taken a strong pro-Israel position.ere