Catherine Ashton, the European Union's new high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, has kicked off her first official trip to the Middle East with tough talk for Israel. Addressing members of the Arab League in Cairo on Monday, Ashton voiced her disapproval of Israel's decision last week to approve the construction of 1,600 new homes in West Bank settlements, just two days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had reluctantly agreed to begin indirect peace talks. Those talks have since been put on the backburner. EU foreign policy chief Catherine AshtonBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Ashton's speech in Cairo was seen a major test for the EU's new foreign policy chief She said the move "endangered and undermined the tentative agreement to begin proximity talks."
Addressing members of the Arab League in Cairo on Monday, Ashton voiced her disapproval of Israel's decision last week to approve the construction of 1,600 new homes in West Bank settlements, just two days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had reluctantly agreed to begin indirect peace talks. Those talks have since been put on the backburner.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine AshtonBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Ashton's speech in Cairo was seen a major test for the EU's new foreign policy chief
She said the move "endangered and undermined the tentative agreement to begin proximity talks."
