Jerusalem (AsiaNews)- The United Nations and the United States have expressed disapproval over the Israeli government's decision to build 884 new homes in east Jerusalem. Housing minister Ze'ev Boim says the initiative has the support of prime minister Ehud Olmert.
The protests of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas were echoed yesterday by White House spokesperson Dana Perino, who said "we don't believe that any more settlements should be built, and we know that it exacerbates the tension when it comes to the negotiations with the Palestinians". Perino also maintains that the construction is making the Palestinians believe that Israel "is not acting in good faith when it comes to their negotiations".
For his part, United Nations secretary Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that he is "deeply concerned", and maintained that "Israel's continued construction in settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is contrary to international law and to its commitments under the Road Map and the Annapolis process".
The construction of new neighbourhoods was decided on Sunday by the Israeli government. This concerns an area that the Israelis call Pisgat Ze'ev and Har Homa, while the Palestinians call it Jabal Abu Ghneim, and according to minister Boim it is part of Jerusalem, although it is in Transjordan. The government official also says it is not part of the area designated E1. Building in this area would rupture the territorial unity of Transjordan. The Palestinians are hoping that the eastern part of Jerusalem will become the capital of their future state.