BRUSSELS (EJP)---In a statement issued on Wednesday, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s spokesperson said Wednesday she  "is deeply concerned by the approval by the Israeli Civil Administration of new construction in the settlements of Shvut Rachel and Shilo as well as the retrospective approval granted for housing units already built."

Ashton called on Israel "to respect its obligations under the Roadmap and reverse this decision."

"Settlements are illegal under international law. In addition the Quartet Roadmap states that Israel should not only freeze all settlement activity, but also dismantle those settlements erected since March 2001," the statement added.

"It is particularly important at this point that neither party in the Middle East peace process undertakes provocative actions which undermine the prospects for continuing the dialogue which was re-established in January."

Israel doesn’t consider Gilo as a "settlement or an outpost" but rather as a "Jewish neighbourhood which constitutes an integral part of the centre of Jerusalem."

Israel considers the entire Jerusalem its "eternal, indivisible" capital, and does not view construction in the east part of the city to be settlement activity.