Washington – The United States said on Wednesday it was “deeply concerned” about an Israeli decision to approve construction of 200 new homes in East Jerusalem.
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State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the decision impeded attempts to reach a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians.
“We are deeply concerned by this decision particularly given the tense situation in Jerusalem,” she told a regular media briefing.
“Most importantly they are contrary to Israel’s own stated goal of achieving a two-state solution because they make it more difficult to do that,” Psaki said.
The new housing is slated for a sprawling hillside complex of apartment buildings and private homes at the northern edge of Jerusalem, on land Israel captured in a 1967 war and annexed to the city in a move never recognized internationally. Palestinians want this territory as part of a future state.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was in Jordan on Wednesday to meet with King Abdullah. The talks will include a discussion of the growing tensions in Jerusalem, the State Department said.
Tension has risen over Israeli-controlled access to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest site, where biblical Jewish temples once stood.
Israeli police and Palestinians have clashed repeatedly in recent weeks, culminating in a one-day closure of the mosque last month.
Jordan recalled its ambassador from Israel on Nov. 5, the first time it has taken such action since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1994, denouncing what Amman called “violations” at the mosque.
How very telling that obama wasn’t and isn’t AT ALL concerned about all the arab terror against innocent Israelis, let alone “deeply ” concerned!
And someone should remind the anti Semite that Jerusalm is not a “settlement,” it is the G-d given land of Israel, and its Capitol.
If this incompetent pompous president of ours wasn’t half black he’d never have been voted into office. Thanks to all you liberals out there who got us into this deep mess, economically as well as globally.
Many are deeply concerned about this jew-hater in the White House.
He’s deeply concerned about a few Jewish houses, not about murdered Jews. The annexation of Yerushalayim in 1948 WAS never recognized internationally, but let’s not forget that neither was the JORDANIAN occupation of it in 1948.
The Israelis allow the pereh adam to go anywhere; THEY destroyed the shuls, the Jewish Quarter, the graves on Har Hazeitim, etc. and didn’t let any Jews near the Kotel which they made into a stable.
Nobody was deeply concerned then either.
“A two-state” solution already exists. The Arab state is called Jordan and the Jewish state is called Israel.
It should be noted that Muslims are permitted to come into the kotel area. Why is it such a problem for them for Jews to come into the Har Habayis area? Muslims are permitted to travel anywhere in Israel, why can’t Israelis travel anywhere in the west bank areas???? Hello!
I am deeply concerned about Obama sending a letter to iran giving that terrorist state who just recently celebrated the destruction of the US embassy legitimacy. iran hates America and they fund terrorism around the world the only reason why they are fighting isis is because they are trying to protect their friend assad…
Bibi, show America you’re the boss. Tell the Americans to keep their opinions and foreign aid to themselves. Refuse the next payment from America. That will teach them a lesson.
i have a few words to jen
and international world .
” kush ah bear unter ek “