Settlements are legal Eugene W. Rostow assistant secretary of state for the United States in 1967 who wrote UN resolution 242 wrote in several articles New Republic in 1991 that resolution 242 never meant for Israel to go back to the 67 borders. He also wrote that settlements were legal in the West Bank based on the fact that the British mandate in 1922 could not be rescinded. There is nothing in his writings in any agreements that say Israel had to go back to 67, and nothing was ever mentioned about land swaps.Read also what the other authors wrote about Resolution 242 in the January 15 2007 article in Camera titled. "Security Council Resolution 242 According to its Drafters" Lord Caradon: Quotes Res 242 "Much play has been made of the fact that we didn’t say “the” territories or “all the” territories. But that was deliberate. I myself knew very well the 1967 boundaries and if we had put in the “the” or “all the” that could only have meant that we wished to see the 1967 boundaries perpetuated in the form of a permanent frontier. This I was certainly not prepared to recommend." "We could have said: well, you go back to the 1967 line. But I know the 1967 line, and it’s a rotten line" "Had we said that you must go back to the 1967 line, which would have resulted if we had specified a retreat from all the occupied territories, we would have been wrong." Dr. Jacques Gauthier, a Canadian lawyer who specializes in international law says that the San Remo Conference was the “final hearing” of a “world court,” the council of the five leading nations and victors of World War I. The “case” before the “court” began at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, where both the Jews and the Arabs of the Middle East submitted claims to the council to obtain independence and control of various territories. Gauthier calls April 24-25 in San Remo the “key defining moment in history” on the issue of title to Jerusalem and says that Chaim Weizmann called the decision the “most important moment for the Jewish people since the exile.” Please see the 5 or so YouTube video lectures on Jerusalem judea and Samaria international law by famed non Jewish international lawyer Dr. Jacques Gauthier. Unfortunely can't post links in this forum. I only say "non Jewish" because to some bigots might use the excuse that he is Jewish for his Pro Israeli legal opinion The Britsh Mandate was recognized by the league of nations in 1923. As per wiki "In June 1922 the League of Nations approved the Palestine Mandate with effect from September 1923. The Palestine Mandate was an explicit document regarding Britain's responsibilities and powers of administration in Palestine including 'securing the establishment of the Jewish national home', and 'safeguarding the civil and religious rights of all the inhabitants of Palestine"

...does Catherine Ashton look evil? She comes off like an apostate of Hades! Jews can't build where they want in their own country, but Muslims can hurl rockets into Israel with impunity and no outcry from the world?

"Ashton and Europe should shut up because of the Holocaust." Really ? No, not because of the holocaust & wwii but because history of the world started with jews. Now if you are one of those prople who believe that israel exists thanks to european votes in the UN, i suggest to you to learn how many european countries were not members of the UN then, & how many european countries vote for an Israel State, in fact many votes for Israel came thanks to latinamerican countrues. Shalom

...Israel and I deplore that Ashton was even born into this world. And I deplore that the UK has not compensated the Jewish people for the illegal theft of 78% of the Jewish homeland which was illegally given by the British to the Arabs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. I deplore that the British placed Jews in prison camps on Cyprus when they tried to LEGALLY reach their historical and ancestral homeland of Eretz Israel. I also deplore that the UK intervened in the Israeli war of independence in 1948 in which we shot down one British military plane. I also deplore that the British have conquered most of planet earth and enslaved millions and killed tens of thousands of people - if not more, across the globe. And I deplore that London and the UK has been turned into Londonistan and UK-istan. And finally I delplore the fact that Ashton even contemplates deploring.

definition of Meeskeit. Cover up. PLEASE!!

The EU is Israel's major source of imports, accounting for more than 30% of the country's total imports. EU is the first trading partner for Israel with total trade amounting to approximately €29.4 billion in 2011. EU imports from Israel are dominated by chemicals, machinery and mechanical appliances, and precious and semi-precious stones. So there is a 30 billion Euro on stake in building on occupied territories. If Eu would take this standpoint, many other countries like Turkey and others would follow. If it happens, no one in Israel including Bibi would understand. We would simply call it Anti Semitism... Good luck Bibi

living space under the sun is a form of racism, anti-Jewish racism at that. Yet, this is precisely what the EU in involved. The EU would never tell blacks, only because they are black, to limit their living space on earth. The EU would not expect the Irish, Poles, German, Finns, Greek or members of any other people to refrain from dwelling in parts of the globe, only due to their belonging to the "wrong" people, "wrong" race. The EU, however, as its population has done for centuries to us, Jews, dare to tell us where may may or may not dwell on this good earth. We say: Never Again!!

The fact that you say, Mrs. Ashton, that the EU "deplores" Israel's plan to build in east Jerusalem and the west Bank, is one thing, but to add that it violates international law is an uncouth mystification. As well as a certain Richard Falk, I suppose, you too, you take as evidence the Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 49, paragraph 6. But I'm sure, that you know, as well as I do, that it is by no way applicable to Israel's presence in the so-called West Bank. This territory NEVER was a "High Contracting Power", NEVER was an independent state, but the residual part of the "Mandate for Palestine" voted unanimously by all the 51 members of the League of Nations in 1922, a territory intended to be part of the coming Jewish state. This decision is even reaffirmed by Article 80 of the UN Charter. And trying to adapt the Geneva Convention to condemn Israel of violating it, by the fact of having been at war with Jordan, is a climax of crookedness. The fact that Israel's leadership remains silent about this matter, for whatsoever reason, remains for me a mystery. But taking advantage of it, and manipulating an International law, as you permit yourself to do, in the function you represent, is a disgrace, and a shame for the EU.

are against building on occupied territories. Its not understandable why Bibi on the same day let out murders and then put a knife in the eyes of the peace process. The only answer is that this is typical Israeli ignorance. We have a lot of that. I only wait until UN will put in sanctions like these of Iran. If USA will veto, EU will do it alone....

Would it be a violation of the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land to drop Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, over so-called Palestine?

In my opinion, Israel should build more than 1,500,000,000 homes! If home prices decrease, maybe I can come back again someday...

The empty areas of Israel are available.But massed armed formations to destroy the jihadi zombies are needed.No room for Arab or Jewish civilians in large numbers .With mega cities the current ratios can stay .One land for many people's the security controlled by Jews.

...but she did not condemn the murders and maiming by the 26 Arabs released from their prison cells. And then the UN wonders why Israel wants no part of Human Rights Comm'n? Same3 old double standard when it comes to Israel and Jews.

I strongly condemn her lack of chin and horrendous overbite.

Ashton should wear a burka so her words could be heard.

EVERYONE, everywhere on Earth condemns Israeli Lebensraum at the expense of Palestinians. Israel be very careful, you are fast running out of friends. Only the USA now supports you and it is increasing obvious that this support is coming to an end. Start preparing for the One State.

Maybe someone should check her finances and where they come from.

The settlements are illegal under international law according to the international community and organizations created by them to develop interpret and apply international law including the UN GA, SG, SC, ICRC, ICJ, High Contracting Parties of the Geneva Convention. and the official legal opinions of every nation in the world except Israel. The settlement policy was a daring gambit with a few successes but overall it has failed. It's time to negotiate borders with Palestine.

"The law is what the judges say it is" and the ultimate judges of international law are the nations that create it and. the organizations formed by them to interpret and apply it (e.g.., UNGA, UNSC, ICRC, ICJ, ICC etc.. These judges have unanimously determined that Israel's civilian settlements violate international law. But you already know this. And so does Lady Ashton. No doubt you will be screaming about the supposed injustice long after the States of Palestine and Israel have finished negotiating their borders. It's sad really.