PM spokesman: No limits to property rights in Jerusalem

Nir Hefetz, head of the National Information Directorate at the Prime Minister's Office, addressed the American demand for clarifications on the approval of 20 housing units in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, saying that the decision was made several months ago and has nothing to do with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington.

"There are no limits on the property rights in Jerusalem. Jews and Arabs can buy and sell private assets across the city, and that is what is happening. In the discussed case, the decision was made several months ago and in 2009. The reports that a new decision was made shortly before the prime minister's visit to Washington are false," Hefetz said. (Roni Sofer)