Jerusalem (AsiaNews
/ Agencies) - In spite of the efforts made in recent months by the international community to resume
negotiations between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority, the Jerusalem
municipality has approved other
942 new settlements in Gilo (in the east of the city). Yosef Pepe
Alalu, municipal councilor of Gilo, explains that the
new houses will expand one of the
existing settlements. The units are in addition to more than 1000 settlements approved by the government on August 11.
The move of coincides with the release
of 26 Palestinian prisoners
scheduled for today. They were released to try to foster a climate of confidence in the peace negotiations which resumed in recent weeks under the auspices of U.S. mediation. The 26 had been imprisoned before the Oslo Accords.
According to sources close to the White
House John Kerry, U.S. Secretary
of State, has criticized the expansionist policies
of Netanyahu and
his entourage. He is reported to
have warned the Israeli Prime Minister that it risks de-legitimizing
Israel in the eyes of the international community.
According to some sources, John Kerry is
using the theme "the
delegitimization of Israel" to
convince Netanyahu to freeze settlements in the Palestinian
territories. For the U.S.
diplomat, the Likud leader fears international
isolation more than the Iranian
nuclear program.