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EU Criticises Jerusalem Office After Israel Complaint

BRUSSELS (AFP)--The European Commission criticised Wednesday one of its offices in Jerusalem after Israel protested to the European Union about critical commission statements on Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

"This press release that was issued by the technical office of the commission doesn't use wording that reflects the views of the European Commission or Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner," her spokeswoman said.

"The position is very clear about this and we have restated it at several occasions.

"Of course we are concerned about the negative effect that settlement policy has on the economic life of Palestinians, however the wording chosen in that statement does take it out of context," she said.

"In our view the reality is much more complex."

Israel's foreign ministry summoned the head of the E.U. delegation, Ramiro Cibrian Uzal, after the commission office said settlements were "strangling the Palestinian economy" and perpetuating Palestinian dependence on donors.

The foreign ministry blasted the E.U. report as unfounded.

The issue of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the international community considers illegal, is one of the main stumbling blocks in the stalled Middle East peace process.

The E.U. is the biggest aid donor to the Palestinians.

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  07-08-091240ET
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