By NNN-Petra,
Occupied Jerusalem : French President Nicolas Sarkozy has criticized the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the construction in east Jerusalem.
In an interview with the Palestinian daily Al Quds, Sarkozy called for a freeze of Israeli settlement plans including those in Jerusalem, “projected to be the capital of two states” Israel and Palestine.
“I have said several times that freezing settlements, which is a major obstacle to peace, is essential,” said Sarkozy who arrived with his wife Carla Bruni in Israel late Sunday afternoon for a three-day trip that will also take them to the Palestinian areas.
“We condemn any unilateral act that comes ahead of the final settlement and affect viability of the planned Palestinian state and the ongoing peace process,” said the French president.
“Now I repeat our demand as stated in the roadmap which the parties promised to honour at Annapolis and that is freezing settlement activities including those linked to the normal growth in Eastern Jerusalem,” Sarkozy said.
During a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres on Sunday Sarkozy said: “You have made some bad decisions, like the expansion of settlements and east Jerusalem, where the construction is not good for Israel.
“The best and only guarantee for the state of Israel is an independent, democratic Palestinian state at its side,” he added.
Asked about the status of Eastern Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in 1967, Sarkozy said: “France, like other members of the world community, sees that this issue should be included in the final status negotiations and in accordance with the international law.”