EU's French presidency deeply concerned by Israel’s building of settlements on Palestinian land

BRUSSELS - Israel's decision to allow more building in settlements in Palestinian territories including Arab east Jerusalem undermines the credibility of the peace process, the EU's French presidency said Friday,

The EU presidency is "deeply concerned by the decision by the Israeli authorities to approve the construction" of 400 housing units in the Neve Yaakov settlement in Arab east Jerusalem and to invite tenders for a total of 316 housing units in the Beitar Illit settlement in the occupied West Bank and Har Homa, also in Arab east Jerusalem.

Jewish settlements are widely seen as one of the major hurdles in peace negotiations between Israel and the …