BICOM

The Israeli daily Maariv reports this morning that the Israeli government has provided clarifications to the United States that no actual building in the controversial E1 area has yet been authorised.

Several European governments reprimanded Israeli envoys this week after Israel announced building plans in East Jerusalem and large existing communities in the West Bank at the end of last week. Particular objections were made over plans for development in the area known as E1, which is situated on the northern outskirts of Jerusalem and is considered important to the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state.

However, according to the Maariv report this morning, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror have sought to reassure the White House over the plans for E1. A senior official is quoted explaining that it has been emphasised to the Obama Administration that permission has only been granted to begin the planning process for E1, not for construction itself.  It has also apparently been stressed that the planning process in question is lengthy and could be suspended at any point, depending on the progress of possible talks with the Palestinian Authority.

A government official also gave a similar assessment to the Times of Israel, saying “No decision has been made to actually build in E1,” emphasising that around a dozen planning and zoning stages would need to be navigated before actual construction could take place.

Meanwhile, speaking to the House of Commons yesterday, Foreign Secretary William Hague dismissed the possibility of instituting economic sanctions against any party in the dispute. He said, “I don’t think there is enthusiasm … about economic sanctions in Europe on Israel. I don’t believe there would be anywhere near a consensus, nor is that our approach. We continue to try to bring both sides back to negotiations.”  However, Hague added that the UK might consider further diplomatic steps along with European colleagues if Israel’s decision was not reversed. An EU Council meeting of EU heads state is due to take place next week.