Region | Palestinian Territories
UK Embassy cancels Israel move in row over landlord
The British Embassy in Israel has canceled plans to relocate to new offices because one of the owners is believed to be involved in building Jewish settlements, an official said.
- AP
- Published: 11:50 March 5, 2009
London: The British Embassy in Israel has canceled plans to relocate to new offices because one of the owners is believed to be involved in building Jewish settlements, an official said.
Spokeswoman Karen Kaufman said the embassy was planning to move to the high-rise Kirya Tower in Tel Aviv, partly owned by real-estate company Africa-Israel Investments Ltd.
"No leases were signed, and part of the reason was we looked into the issue of Africa-Israel and settlements and settlement holdings and we asked for clarification on those issues," Kaufman said.
She said the company's response was unsatisfactory, though she declined to elaborate.
The embassy's decision reflected growing UK pressure on Israel to abide by its international pledges to freeze settlement building in the West Bank and dismantle unauthorized outposts.
The Palestinians seek the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state.
"The U.K. government has always regarded settlements as illegal, but what has happened in recent months is that we are looking for ways to make a difference on this issue," Kaufman said. "We see them as an obstacle to peace," she said.
A subsidiary of Africa-Israel, Danya Cebus, has built homes in at least one West Bank settlement, Maale Adumim, but it is not clear what the scope of the company's activities are.
Africa-Israel, which is owned by Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev, did not return messages seeking comment.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry refused to comment.
Kaufman said the British ambassador, Tom Phillips, took the decision not to move last month.
The United Kingdom does not have dealings with companies based in Jewish settlements and does not offer assistance to British companies seeking to invest in such areas.
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