The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) blasted the European Union for its one-sided criticism of Israel regarding the lack of progress in achieving a negotiated resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Last week, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton characterized Israeli construction in the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo as threatening “to make a two-state solution impossible.”  

Ashton, however, chose to omit any criticism of the Palestinian Authority for their steadfast refusal to return to the negotiation process following her meeting last month with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

“The European Union consistently ignores the Palestinian refusal to resume direct negotiations with Israel without preconditions,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  “Considering the EU’s emphasis on the need for negotiations to put an end the conflict, we would hope that the EU would clearly and publicly say to the Palestinian Authority that its intransigence is unacceptable and that this type of conduct will not lead to a resolution of the conflict.

“Ms. Ashton will be in Ramallah tomorrow and should take the opportunity to make such a public comment,” added Foxman.

In a letter addressed to Ashton, the ADL conveyed that the EU’s continuing failure to call on the Palestinian Authority to resume negotiations increases the likelihood that it will proceed with unilateral steps for recognition of a ‘Palestinian’ state at the United Nations General Assembly and evade their obligations to negotiate the terms of a resolution with Israel.

With regard to construction in Gilo, ADL noted that, as matter of national policy, the Israeli government does not distinguish between different parts of its eternal and undivided capital, Jerusalem.  

“We must ask, why has the European Union not publicly called on the Palestinian Authority to drop its pre-conditions and return to negotiations?” Foxman wrote in the letter to Ashton.  “Respectfully, we urge you to forcefully and publicly criticize Palestinian intransigence.”