EU Official says international community won't accept 'natural growth' of settlements

Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz
...[A] senior European Union official has ruled out any compromise with Israel over the issue of settlements, unless reached in the framework of a final-status agreement with the Palestinians.

Robert Rydberg, head of the Middle East desk in the Swedish Foreign Ministry, stressed on Monday it was inconceivable for the international community to legitimize natural growth of the settler population, since all settlements beyond the Green Line were illegal.

Rydberg, whose country holds the EU presidency, said the only conceivable compromise would come with Israeli and Palestinian agreement on borders in an all-encompassing final-status agreement between the two parties.

Speaking at a conference in Munich, Rydberg slammed the settlements as creating a new reality on the ground in the occupied territories and spawning obstacles, and he said that roadblocks were intended mainly to protect the settlements rather than Israel proper within the Green Line.

...He said the ideology that guides most settlers is based on utter denial of the rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

...Rydberg said the situation in Iran was likely to influence the Israeli-Arab conflict, but also that progress in the peace process was as likely to influence players affiliated with Iran in the region, such as Syria, as well as the positions of organization like Hamas and Hezbollah.

He said the Middle East will be given much attention during the Swedish presidency of the EU, as his government, like others in Europe, has political, security and economic interests in the region.

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