Israel: A Grand Construction Strategy, Step by Step

On Tuesday, after  the approval of 900 housing units in November and 700 new apartments in December, Israel's Jerusalem municipality approved the construction of a further four apartment buildings in East Jerusalem.

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erakat responded, "We condemn this decision in the strongest language and we condemn the Israeli Government's continuing construction of settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank....Netanyahu's government is talking about peace and negotiations in a way that is totally opposed to the reality on the ground where settlement activity is continuing."

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Stephan Miller, spokesman for Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, was far happier about the decision, "As far as the municipality is concerned, building can begin".

Middle East Inside Line: Israel & US Spar Over Settlements

Following the Israeli Government's decision to build 700 more apartments in East Jerusalem, the White House press secretary Robert Gibbs expressed Washington's concern over the future of the peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel:

Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally pre-empt, or appear to pre-empt, negotiations. Rather, both parties should return to negotiations without preconditions as soon as possible.

We believe that through good faith negotiations the parties can mutually agree on an outcome that realizes the aspirations of both parties for Jerusalem, and safeguards its status for people around the world.

Jerusalem Mayor and businessman Nir Barkat maintained, however, that criticism from the United States would not have any impact on construction in the city. He added that the demand, applied only to Jews, to halt construction in Jerusalem would not be legal anywhere in the world.

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