Visiting Germany Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier accused Israel of “disrupting” talks with the Palestinian Authority for a peace agreement by announcing the construction of more homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria.
He alleged that the building violates understandings that Kerry set forth last July, when direct talks resumed for the first time in three years.
Kerry not only has never stated that he made a building freeze a condition for talks but also stated that he was nit surprised by announcements of new homes.
“It is clear that the continued building of settlements really hurts the process,” Steinmeier told reporters, and he added that Germany expects the PA Arabs “to do their part.”
He did not explain what that “part” is supposed to be but he did meet with PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Abbas said after the meeting, “We asked for Germany and the European Union to take action to end the Israeli settlement policy, which is sabotaging the peace process.”