US: E. Jerusalem construction is embarrassment to Netanyahu

US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley criticized the Israeli Interior Ministry's announcement of the plans to construct thousands of housing units in east Jerusalem, which was made during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the US.

"It could very well be that somebody in Israel has made this known in order to embarrass the prime minister and to undermine the process," Crowley said. "It is counterproductive to our efforts to resume direct negotiations between the parties." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was expected to bring the matter up in a meeting with Netanyahu in New York on Thursday. (AP)