International community criticizes approval of Jerusalem construction

             European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has expressed her "deep regret" over Israel's approval of more construction in eastern Jerusalem. Ashton said in a statement that the EU has "repeatedly called on Israel to end all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001." She said settlement activity threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution and undermines ongoing efforts to resume negotiations. Her comment came after Interior Minister Eli Yishai this week gave final approval to the construction of 1,600 units in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, prompting an outcry from Palestinian officials. The White House urged Israel and the Palestinians to avoid actions that jeopardise efforts to restart the stalled talks. The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Robert Serry, said in a statement he is "alarmed" by the announcement to develop the new housing units in Ramat Shlomo. He called it a "provocative action" that undermines ongoing efforts by the international community to bring the parties back to negotiations. Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has reiterated that any future Palestinian state must be free of Israeli settlements, and called for a halt in settlement activity. Meeting in Ramallah with a visiting delegation of US Congressional Democrats, Abbas reiterated that the Palestinians prefer to establish a state through negotiations, and their appeal to the United Nations in September does not stand in contradiction to a peace process, and is not a unilateral step aimed at isolating Israel or de-legitimizing it. Abbas stressed that the diplomatic process must be based on the two state principle, and the 1967 lines. (21,00)