OTTAWA - Green Party Leader and MP for Saanich–Gulf Island Elizabeth May today questioned the logic of recent Israeli government messaging that it will proceed with new settlement plans in the E-1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim in response to the successful Palestinian Authority bid to obtain non-member state observer status at the United Nations.
“The vote is over but the consequences are not,” observed Elizabeth May. “Does the Israeli government truly want to strengthen the political hands of the extremists on both sides and especially the Hamas administration in Gaza at the expense of the more moderate Fatah-led administration in the West Bank by messaging that it will effectively cripple a Two-State solution by unfreezing plans to build in the critical E-1 area?” asked May.
In addition to this very negative local political consequence, there is a real economic risk to Israel being isolated from the International community.
“If these recent statements by Prime Minister Netanyahu are in fact primarily for internal consumption prior to a national election then this approach needs to be reconsidered before there are unfortunate unintended consequences” concluded International Affairs Critic Eric Walton.
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