Palestinian officials said Israel’s announcement of construction of 240 new units in East Jerusalem was a further blow to renewed peace talks.
Israel’s Housing Ministry announced Oct. 15 that among 3,500 tenders throughout Israel, 240 were approved for units in Ramot and Pisgat Ze’ev, in northeastern Jerusalem, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported.
“The Netanyahu government is determined to thwart any chance of resuming direct negotiations,” Sa’eb Erekat, the top Palestinian negotiator said in response.
The announcement was the first major building start in eastern Jerusalem since an announcement in March of plans for 1,600 units.
Meanwhile, on Oct. 17 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinians are ready to end all historic claims against Israel once they establish their state in the lands Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War.
Abbas also said negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remain his preferred choice, but that he will consider other options if talks break down over Israel’s continued settlement expansion. — jta & ap