[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

"While recognizing Israel's legitimate right to self defense, the European
Council calls for an immediate end to all acts of violence." = Israel has
the right to self defense but not the right to use arms in self defense?]

EU demands Israel halt all construction in W. Bank, E. J'lem
By Reuters Last update - 20:06 14/03/2008
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/964405.html

European Union leaders on Friday condemned Israeli plans to build hundreds
of new homes in a West Bank settlement, and called on Israel to act swiftly
to keep peace efforts alive.

"The EU reiterates that settlement building anywhere in the occupied
Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under
international law," the bloc's presidency said in a statement after a summit
of EU leaders.

"Settlement activity prejudges the outcome of final status negotiations and
threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution. The European
Council therefore urges Israel to take immediate action in particular on
settlements and outposts," the leaders said.

Israel said on Sunday that plans to build a total of 750 homes in Givat
Ze'ev, a settlement near Jerusalem, were being revived.

The new building was announced three days after a Palestinian terrorist
killed eight students at Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem.

EU leaders condemned that attack but said: "While recognizing Israel's
legitimate right to self defense, the European Council calls for an
immediate end to all acts of violence."

The European Union is part of the Quartet of international mediators trying
to promote peace talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state alongside
Israel by the end of this year, as agreed in Annapolis, Maryland, last
November.

"Despite the difficulties that the process has recently experienced, the
European Council welcomes the intention of the parties to resume their
negotiations and looks forward to an early meeting of Quartet principals,"
the statement said.

EU leaders also said they were "deeply concerned by the unsustainable
humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for the controlled and sustained
reopening of all crossings in and out of Gaza for both humanitarian reasons
and commercial flows."