Israel approves over 1,300 new homes in East Jerusalem

Israel approves over 1,300 new homes in East Jerusalem

2010-11-09 05:19:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BNO NEWS) -Israel's Interior Ministry revealed its plans to establish over 1,300 new housing units in occupied east Jerusalem, local media reported Monday.

The Israeli government plans to expand the Har Homa neighborhood by 978 apartments and to build 320 new apartments in the Ramot neighborhood. Ruth Yosef, who chairs the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee, published the details over the weekend with 930 housing units to be built in the Har Homa C area, and another 48 units in Har Homa B.

The announcement came as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is visiting the U.S. and holding meeting to resume peace talks with the Palestinians. The Israeli PM previously met with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat criticized Netanyahu regarding the new housing units.

"We thought that Netanyahu was going to the US to stop settlement activity and restart negotiations but it is clear to us that he is determined to destroy the talks," Erakat said. "He has shut all the doors to negotiations and we hold him responsible for destroying them."

Har Homa is located south of Jerusalem's center region, and has been in the middle of international controversy after construction projects began in the area since the late 1990s.

Since 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, settling close to 500,000 Jews in more than 100 settlements.

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