STRASBOURG, December 13, 2012 (WAFA) - The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) welcomed the resolution adopted by the European Parliament that opposes the Israeli government's decision to expand settlements in the West Bank, including those in East Jerusalem, said a press release by S&D on Thursday.

Véronique De Keyser, S&D vice-president responsible for foreign affairs and other officials said, “ Following the UN General Assembly's decision to upgrade the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state, the Israeli government’s announcement, regarding the planned construction of 3000 new settlement units, undermines the prospect of a two-state solution and goes against the spirit of peace.”

They called on the Israeli government not to implement the decision and to put an immediate end to all settlement constructions and extensions in the occupied Palestinian Territory.

They also condemned the Israeli government’s decision to withhold Palestinian tax revenues, as it undermines the Palestinian Authority's budget and stability, and called for the immediate transfer of these revenues.

They affirmed that the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace is a two-state solution, drawn up on the basis of the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as the capital of both states – with a secure state of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side-by-side in peace and security.

The press release welcomed EU's commitment to ensure that all agreements between the state of Israel and EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the occupied Territory.

They called for reconciliation to re-unite Palestinians living in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, all of whom are members of Palestinian people.

M.H./F.R.