Biden Condemns Israeli Decision Saying New Constructions in Jerusalem Undermine Peace Talks

Wednesday March 10, 2010 02:27 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, stated that Israel’s Interior Ministry’s decision to build 1600 homes for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem undermines the efforts to restart the Middle East peace process.

The Israeli Interior Ministry approved Tuesday the construction of 16000 homes for ultra Orthodox Jews in Ramat Shlomo settlement, in East Jerusalem, expanding its from the east and the south.

Biden said that he condemns the plan especially since its timing came with the launching of proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

He stated that the plan undermines the trust needed to launch the talks and counters what he described as “constructive discussions” he had in Israel.

The U.S. Vice President said that there is a need to create the right atmosphere for talks, and added that this plan underscores the need to get the talks started to resolve all outstanding issues.

He further said that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as a city with significant importance to the Palestinians, the Jews, the Muslims and Christians.

U.S. Special Middle East Peace Envoy, George Mitchell, urged both parties to refrain from unilateral actions or statements that could inflame tension and affect the outcome of proximity talks.

The Palestinian Authority slammed the Israeli plan and said that it ended the efforts to resume talks.

The new Israeli plan includes public facilities, units for young Jewish couples and a new central park.

The Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital for their future state. The city was occupied by Israel in 1967 along with the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Fayyad: Jerusalem announcement 'damaging'

Published today (updated) 10/03/2010 14:32

Bethlehem – Ma'an/Agencies –

Caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Wednesday that Israel's plan to build 1,600 new settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem contradicted America's vision for Middle East peace.

"This is a moment of great challenge to the effort by the United States to get the political process going again," Fayyad told visiting US Vice President Joe Biden at a news conference in Ramallah, Reuters reported.

The announcement was "damaging for sure," and "definitely undermines confidence in the prospects for peace," Fayyad was quoted as saying, a day after Biden denounced the plan.

"I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units," Biden said in a statement, issued after he arrived 90 minutes late for a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Tuesday's announcement, of plans to build in the Jewish-only settlement in Ramot Shlomo in occupied East Jerusalem, "undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I've had here in Israel," Biden wrote.

His remarks followed concern expressed by Palestinian Authority and PLO officials over the US’ renewed attempts to start indirect talks between the two sides. Palestinian officials have said the East Jerusalem expansion threatened to derail talks before they commence.

Israel breached a 10-month settlement halt on Monday with plans to build 112 new homes in Betar Illit, near Bethlehem. The decision was slammed by PLO officials, citing attempts to undermine US efforts to renew peace talks, as the Israeli cabinet further announced it would award settlement residents affected by the freeze with compensation.

Meanwhile, Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai, who announced the Jerusalem build, said "There was certainly no intention to provoke anyone, and certainly not to come along and hurt the vice president of the United States."

Yishai told Israel's Channel One television that "final approval [for the project] will take another few months, if it is approved, and I agree that the timing [of the announcement] should have been in another two or three weeks."

Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh issued a stern response to the move, which also came a day after US envoy George Mitchell arrived in the region, saying it could "derail negotiations and ensure the failure of US efforts before they begin."

He added: "It is now apparent that the Israeli government does not want negotiations, nor does it want peace. The American administration must respond to this provocation with effective measures."

Abu Rudeineh said moving forward would "no longer be tolerable" after "these provocations" absent action from the US. "Without real and effective American pressure, adopting a position that would make Israel stop these actions, they will destroy the peace process."

The White House also condemned the move, spokesman Robert Gibbs said hours after the announcement.

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