Israelis slam Obama statement on Jerusalem

JERUSALEM

November 09, 2010|By the CNN Wire Staff

President Barack Obama's disappointment over Israel's plans for new housing in east Jerusalem has drawn criticism from the prime minister's office and the country's settler council.

Appearing before reporters in Indonesia on the second leg of his Asian trip, Obama was asked whether "Israel's advanced planning for more than a thousand new homes in Jerusalem" undermines his peace efforts and trust between Israelis and Palestinians.

"I've been out of town, so I'm just seeing the press reports. I have not had a full briefing on Israel's intentions and what they've communicated to our administration," Obama said.

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"But this kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotiations. And I'm concerned that we're not seeing each side make the extra effort involved to get a breakthrough that could finally create a framework for a secure Israel living side and side in peace with a sovereign Palestine," he said.

"We're going to keep on working on it, though, because it is in the world's interest, it is in the interest of the people of Israel, and it is in the interest of the Palestinian people to achieve ... that agreement. But each of these incremental steps can end up breaking down trust between the parties."

The Israeli government said Monday it is proceeding with plans for about 1,000 new housing units in east Jerusalem, a move that the chief Palestinian negotiator said would derail already suspended peace talks.

Construction of settlements in the West Bank, as well as new housing in Jerusalem, have been criticized by the Palestinians, and such activity has been a stumbling block in the direct negotiations renewed by the Obama administration.

Israel seized east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War, annexed the ancient city, and established the nation's capital there. The international community, however, does not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and embassies in the country have based themselves in Tel Aviv. Palestinians envision the eastern part of the city as its future capital in a two-state solution.

Israel differentiates the settlements from the West Bank, the land seized from Jordan in the 1967 war, from the housing in the politically undivided city of Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Jerusalem "is not a settlement." The city, it said, is the "capital of the state of Israel."

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