Rice chides Israel on new home-building plan
US secretary of state says Israel's plan to build 300 housing units in east Jerusalem 'doesn't help build confidence' with Palestinians ahead of renewed talks. Livni states West Bank settlements will be evacuated as part of peace deal
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Israel on Friday its plan to build 300 housing units in east Jerusalem threatened US-backed efforts to reach peace with Palestinians.
"We are in a time when the goal is to build maximum confidence with the parties and this doesn't help to build confidence," she said in rare US criticism of Israel.
"There should not be anything which might prejudge final-status negotiations," Rice said after talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on the sidelines of a NATO meeting.
"It's even more important now that we are on the eve of the beginning of the negotiations. I made that position clear," she told a news conference.
Israel has issued a tender for the construction of some 300 units at Har Homa, one of several residential districts that have been built on land captured by Israel in the 1967 war and now home to a substantial Jewish community.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, on her part, stated that Israel plans to evacuate West Bank settlements as part of a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
"Israel wants to end this conflict with the Palestinians, and understands it would have to make concessions for a Palestinian state to be established. We evacuated settlements from Gaza and we plan to do so in the West Bank as well," she told reporters after meeting Rice.
Livni added that "Israel's ability to bridge gaps and make compromises on borders" is directly linked to the country's security needs.
Roni Sofer contributed to the report
