Washington – US Disappointed with Resumption of E. Jerusalem Construction

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    A Palestinian man works on a construction site in the the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot, Friday, Oct. 15, 2010. Israel's government says it has approved the construction of 238 homes in Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, ending an unofficial freeze on new building there for nearly a year. An Israeli settlement slowdown imposed last November in the West Bank did not officially include east Jerusalem, which Israel considers part of its capital. The issue of Israeli settlement building is threatening to derail recently renewed Mideast peace talks. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)Washington – The United States has expressed disappointment at Israel’s decision to issue new tenders for some 240 housing units in two Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond the Green Line, the first such tenders since an East Jerusalem building announcement threw a wrench into Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel last March.

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    “Washington said the decision to build in east Jerusalem hinders the efforts to resume the direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations,” the AFP reports.

    Earlier, Ben Smith predicted the State Department would rap Bibi Friday, expressing “regret” at his decision so far not to extend a partial West Bank settlement moratorium as “not productive.” 

    This sounds like it came out on the milder end of things, but will check the transcript when it’s out.

    The U.S. has earlier expressed disappointment at the expiration of the moratorium from both the State Department and White House podiums. 

    Yediot reported Friday that unlike in March, Israel had kept the United States abreast of the East Jerusalem building plans this time, but gone ahead against the United States’s opposition.

    UPDATE: Another colleague is also hearing that State anticipates that Netanyahu may announce that he is not extending the freeze … and would then issue a statement similar to what Ben is hearing. Suggestion that one such ‘heads up’ may have been sent to a lawmaker’s office, along these lines….

    But several Washington Israel hands say it’s inconceivable Netanyahu would make such an announcement or any announcement at all on Shabbot, as it would collapse his government. And one Washington Israel expert wonders why Netanyahu would make such an announcement at all. He’s already given his answer — he would do an extension if the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state – and doesn’t have to do anything right now, the Israel expert said.  

    But another Washington Middle East expert says it’s clear to him that, whether Netanyahu says it today or another day, “all the visible signs seem to be that he is not extending.”

    A U.S. official said Friday that the U.S. is continuing to work the issues, both efforts to try to get a possible extension of the freeze, but more broadly to keep the direct talks going. He wasn’t aware of U.S. anticipation of such an announcement from Israel.

    “Look, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said at the press conference Friday. “We are working intensively as we speak with the parties directly to get negotiations to resume. We are doing everything in our power and we are making clear to the parties that we want to see this direct negotiation continue, so we’re not focused on what happens ‘if.’ We’re focused on how can we create the conditions that allow the parties to continue.”


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    3 Comments
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    funnsmart1
    funnsmart1
    13 years ago

    Americans are disappointed with the US stand on Israeli politics!

    13 years ago

    The US should stop building the mosque in NY first………………………….

    Bud out of Israel’s land – it’s theirs given to them by the One Above………….

    13 years ago

    Arabs build in East Jerusalem and all of the West Bank but Jews can’t? ABSURD