US State Department summons Ambassador Michael Oren
The US State Department summoned Israel's Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren for a meeting following Israel's plan to construct 1,600 new housing units in east Jerusalem, which was announced during US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel.
During the meeting, Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg harshly criticized Israel's conduct and called for trust-building steps that will allow US special envoy George Mitchell to return to the region and commence talks with Palestinians. (Yitzhak Benhorin, Washington)
