White House, EU say oppose new Jerusalem-area construction
After Israel announces decision to build some 700 housing units in east Jerusalem, US says capital's status 'must be resolved by parties through negotiations.' Sweden: Settlements on occupied land illegal under international law
WASHINGTON - The White House called on Monday for Israel to halt construction of new homes for Jews in east Jerusalem and urged Israel and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.
"The United States opposes new Israeli construction in East Jerusalem," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement. "The status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved by the parties through negotiations and supported by the international community."
According to Washington, "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. The United States recognizes that Jerusalem is a deeply important issue for Israelis and Palestinians, and for Jews, Muslims, and Christians.
"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," said Gibbs.
Earlier Monday, the European Union condemned the Israeli government's decision to build nearly 700 housing units in east Jerusalem.
"Settlements on occupied land are illegal under international law," the current rotating EU presidency Sweden said in a statement.
"The Presidency of the European Union urges Israel to reconsider these plans as it prevents the creation of an atmosphere conducive to resuming negotiations on a two-state solution," said the statement.
'No housing shortage'
State officials told Ynet on Sunday evening that Israel had informed the United States in advance of its plan to build 692 housing units in Jerusalem neighborhoods located beyond the Green Line. American officials told Ynet that Washington expressed its staunch opposition upon learning of Israel's plan.
The tender, which will be issued by the Housing and Construction Ministry on Monday, includes the construction of nearly 700 housing units in 54 communities, including the following disputed neighborhoods: 377 new apartments in Neve Yaakov, 117 housing units in Har Homa and 198 in Pisgat Ze'ev.
According to the officials, the US knew of the plan in advance, including the location of each housing unit. The sources refused to say, however, how the Americans responded to the Israeli construction plan in the three neighborhoods in the Jerusalem vicinity.
Hatem Abdel Kader, who holds the Jerusalem portfolio in the Fatah movement, told Ynet that "the Americans must respond to this Israeli game."
According to Abdel Kader, the claims that the construction was aimed at easing the housing shortage were false. "There is no housing shortage in the settlements in Jerusalem, and in most settlements the apartments are empty. This is a move aimed at creating facts in the ground as part of the Israeli effort to cause the American concept of two states to collapse," he said.
Reuters, AFP and Roni Sofer contributed to the report
