UK's Cameron: East Jerusalem settlement construction is 'genuinely shocking'

British Prime Minster David Cameron on
Wednesday blasted Israeli settlement construction in
east Jerusalem as "genuinely shocking" and called
for the reversal of further building plans, according
to British media.
While the Cameron underlined that he was a
staunch ally of Israel's, he noted that the UK does
not support what he called "illegal settlements."
"I am well known for being a strong friend of
Israel, but I have to say the first time I visited
Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that
wonderful city and saw what has happened with
the effective encirclement of east Jerusalem, occupied
east Jerusalem, it is genuinely shocking," the UK's
Independent quoted him as saying to parliament
members in the House of Commons.
The British prime minister reportedly made the
remarks in response to a question by Labour MP
Imram Hussain about London's plans on the
Palestinian issue.
According to the Independent, Hussain asked the
prime minister what actions the government was
taking "to prevent the infringement into Palestinian
lives and land.”
In response, Cameron was quoted by British media
as saying: “What this government has consistently
done and gone on doing is saying yes, we are
supporters of Israel, but we do not support illegal
settlements, we do not support what is happening
in east Jerusalem and it’s very important that this
capital city is maintained in the way that it was in
the past."
While the UK has repeatedly condemned Israeli
plans for building over the Green Line, earlier in
February, Israel hailed a tough British move against
boycotts as a welcome step in the fight against
discrimination against the Jewish state.
The PLO said it perpetuated the “tragedy” that
began when Britain issued the Balfour Declaration
a century ago.
Visiting UK Cabinet Office Minister Matthew
Hancock announced that “we are publishing new
guidance for public authorities in the UK that
makes clear that discriminating against members of
the WTO [World Trade Organization], including
Israel, is wrong and it is illegal and it must stop.”
The British government issued the guidance making
clear that “procurement boycotts by public
authorities are inappropriate.”
Herb Keinon contributed to this report.