Israel defies international criticism of settlement plans

Traditional allies heaped criticism upon Israel this week over plans to build new settlements on Palestinian territory, but the Jewish state lashed out Tuesday, saying it would not bend to the international pressure.

Israel's actions are in answer to the Palestinians' successful bid last week at the United Nations for an upgraded status to non-member observer state, said a senior official from the office of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a statement, the official called it a "one-sided move" and said "Israel is not sitting with her hands tied."

"Israel will continue to stand by its essential interests even in the face of international pressure, and there will be no change in the decision that was taken," the official said, who asked not to be named.

Australia joined Tuesday in high-level diplomatic reprimands, following five European countries and the United States, which expressed their concerns Monday over Israel's decision to construct 3,000 new settler domiciles.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr had the Israeli ambassador to his country summoned Tuesday to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade over Israel's decision on new construction in East Jerusalem and on the West Bank, according to a statement on the ministry's website.

Officials of the department expressed on Carr's behalf Australia's "grave concern" to Ambassador Yuval Rotem that Israel intended "to unfreeze planning in the area known as E1 and to withhold tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority." Carr was in Papua New Guinea at the time.

The government in Canberra joins the five European nations Britain, Denmark, France, Spain and Sweden, who previously summoned Israel's ambassadors to their respective countries over the same concerns.

The White House has also expressed its opposition Monday to settlement activity, but has not summoned Israel's ambassador.

The location of the construction in the Ma'ale Adumim area would block the formation of a contiguous Palestinian state, the Obama administration has warned.

Israeli settlements are widely considered illegal under international law; Israel insists they are not.

An Israeli crew accompanied by military and security forces tore down a mosque in the village of Farqqa in the Hebron region of the West Bank Tuesday, according to the head of the village council.

An Israeli government spokesman said the building was not a mosque but "a building that was used for prayer." A court decided that the building was illegal and has no connection to recent political developments, said Guy Inbar.

"I am extremely disappointed with these reported Israeli decisions," said Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr from his trip abroad. He added that they would make peace negotiations more difficult.

The government has also communicated its concerns directly to Jerusalem, he said. "Australia has long opposed all settlement activity."

The British Foreign Office called Israel's move "deplorable" Monday and said it threatens a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The foreign ministries of France, Spain and Denmark issued similar statements asking Israeli officials to reverse their decision.