JERUSALEM—Israel’s announcement to approve 1,600 new housing units for construction in eastern Jerusalem has sparked a strong international response. The uproar over Israel’s decision might hamper the newly declared round of peace negotiations.
On Tuesday, Israel’s interior ministry announced an approved plan to build 1,600 new housing units in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo. Ramat Shlomo is in the municipal boundary of Jerusalem, but it is located in territories captured after the 1967 War, and is thus considered by most countries to be an Israeli “settlement.”
The announcement of the plan came during U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s four-day trip to the region. The Israeli Ministry of the Interior claimed the timing of the announcement was not connected to Biden visit.
“The Jerusalem District Planning Committee approved a plan, which has been in the works for over three years. This is a procedural stage in the framework of a long process that will yet continue for some time,” said an official statement from the ministry.
In response to Israel’s decision, Biden quickly responded with an official statement condemning the move.
“I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel,” said Biden adding there is a need in the current situations to build an atmosphere of trust between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
“This announcement underscores the need to get negotiations under way that can resolve all the outstanding issues of the conflict. ... Unilateral action taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations on permanent status issues,” said Biden.
Spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeina said in a statement that Israel’s move shows it is not seeking peace. He called the decision “dangerous” and said the step might hamper the recently announced proximity talks.
The president of the Palestinian Authority called the secretary-general of the League of Arab States and asked him to work toward a joint action from the League in response to the construction announcement.
According to an official publication of the Palestinian Authority, the prime minister of Jordan and his foreign minister called Abbas to express their disapproval of “Israel’s provocative actions.”
Talks May Be in Jeopardy
The Arab league agreed to Abbas’s request. According to media reports, in a special session, the league recommended to not hold indirect negotiations with Israel. Two weeks ago, it was on the okay from the Arab league that led to a Palestinian decision to accept indirect talks. It is still unclear what the impact of this development will be on those negotiations.
Biden reiterated his position on the matter after his meeting with the Palestinian president on Wednesday.
“The decision by the Israeli government to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem undermines that very trust, the trust that we need right now in order to begin as well as produce—profitable negotiations.”
Biden said further that, “The United States, will hold both sides accountable for any statements or actions that inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of talks, as this decision did.”
European Union Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton also criticized Israel in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
From the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the settlements illegal under international law. Ki-moon underscored that settlement activity is contrary to Israel’s obligations under the Road Map and undermines any movement toward a viable peace process.
The road map for peace, proposed by President Bush in 2002, had been adopted by the Israelis and the Palestinians. It required the Palestinians to stop terrorist activities and Israelis to stop the settlements, as a first step. Neither obligation was met and the plan missed its proposed deadlines.
The negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians were in a complete halt for more than a year. The last round of significant talks was the Annapolis process in Nov. 2007, which aimed at creating a Palestinian state by the end of 2008. Soon after those talks failed, but not related to it, elections were held in Israel.
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