The US has criticised Israel’s decision to build 400 more Jewish homes in the crowded Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo on Monday, calling the decision “unfortunate.”
“It is unfortunate that after the unequivocal and unanimous position last week of the international community opposing construction in Jerusalem at this sensitive time, authorities chose to advance [tenders],” State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez stated Monday.
“We continue to engage at the highest levels with the Israeli government to make our position absolutely clear that we view settlement activity as illegitimate and unequivocally oppose unilateral steps that prejudge the future of Jerusalem.”
The statement is a near-verbatim rehash of similar criticism directed at Israel last week, after it decided to finally advance more than 1,000 building tenders that had been waiting for construction since as far back as 2010.
Last week, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu gave instructions for the building of about 660 homes in Ramat Shlomo and about 400 more in Har Homa, in the capital’s southern section. And in October, he approved 2,610 building tenders from 2012 to be approved for full construction.
State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki responded to the moves by saying Washington was “deeply concerned” by the reports and American embassy officials were having high-level talks with Israeli leaders to seek more information.
“Our policy has been clear for many administrations. The policy continues to oppose unilateral steps that would prejudge the outcome of negotiations on Jerusalem,” said Psaki, who said that Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Netanyahu and “conveyed very clearly what our view is on settlements. And the fact remains that if actions are taken that are not conducive to peace, it makes it very difficult to not only return to a negotiation but to obviously reach a two-state solution.”
“Our view on construction is longstanding. And we’ve stated it many times here. We’ll continue to express those views. We’ve – as I mentioned yesterday, we continue to urge both sides to take steps that are conducive to what they state they want to achieve, which is peace in the region and a two-state solution,” added Psaki.
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