The European Union (EU) condemned on Friday Israel's planned settlement construction in the vicinity of the Adam settlement in the West Bank, and urged Israel to reconsider its decision.

"The European Union urgently calls on Israel to reconsider the settlement's planned construction, which would be in violation of international law; run counter to the Roadmap; and is against commitments made by Israel to the Palestinians and the international community" in 2007 in Annapolis, the United States, said a statement issued by the EU's Czech presidency.

The EU warned that settlement activity is a major obstacle to peace in the Mideast, and to the efforts of the international community to advance the Mideast peace process.

"As the European Union has consistently made clear, there can be no sustainable peace in the Middle East without the creation of a viable Palestinian state. Continued settlement activity severely damages this prospect," said the statement.

Settlement activity undermines all the efforts of Arab partners committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and calls into question the seriousness of Israel's commitment to the two-state solution, it added.

According to the EU, the number of newly built structures in the Jewish settlements in 2008 amounted to 1,257, including 748 permanent buildings and 509 mobile structures.

The EU criticism came as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the center-right Likud party were assigned to form a new Israeli government.

Whether the hawkish leader and his government will be devoted to continuing peace talks with the Palestinians remains unknown.

Source: Xinhua