Secretary-General Amr Moussa
Photo: Reuters
Arab League ministers to meet on Israel settlements
'Israel's building of settlements will destroy any hope of peace,' says Arab League secretary-general as forum of Arab foreign ministers announces it will convene to discuss continued Israeli construction in West Bank
Arab foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting soon to discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and Israeli settlement policy, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said on Saturday.
"The international momentum does not seem to be affecting the Israeli position and maybe will not, so we will meet to decide what is to be done," Moussa told a news conference.
"It is now clear that the settlements issue will destroy any hope of peace and will break the course of Annapolis."
Israeli officials have said Israel would allow construction within built up areas of existing Jewish settlements in the West Bank, but would not expand beyond those areas - a position that could widen the rift in US - backed peace talks launched in Annapolis, Maryland, last month.
The Palestinians say the negotiations, the first in seven years, hinge on Israel committing to halt all settlement activity, including so - called natural growth, as called for under a long-stalled "road map" peace plan.
Israel has said the Palestinian Authority has not fulfilled its own commitments to the plan, which calls for a dismantlement of terror groups operating within Palestinian territory.
It was not immediately clear when or where the meeting will be held, but Moussa told the news conference: "We will have this meeting in a very short period of time."
The call for the meeting came from Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Moussa said, adding it will also discuss the political crisis in Lebanon.
