JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Sunday an American call to hold off on a planned Jewish housing development in East Jerusalem, saying Israel's sovereignty over the disputed city could not be challenged.Mr. Netanyahu issued the statement because State Department officials had raised concerns over the project with Israel's new ambassador to Washington, Michael Oren, during discussions last week on a range of issues. The American officials suggested that going ahead with the development now would cause problems in negotiations toward a two-state solution."I would like to re-emphasize that united Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people and of the State of Israel," the prime minister said. "Our sovereignty over it cannot be challenged; this means -- inter alia -- that residents of Jerusalem may purchase apartments in all parts of the city."
Mr. Netanyahu issued the statement because State Department officials had raised concerns over the project with Israel's new ambassador to Washington, Michael Oren, during discussions last week on a range of issues. The American officials suggested that going ahead with the development now would cause problems in negotiations toward a two-state solution.
"I would like to re-emphasize that united Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people and of the State of Israel," the prime minister said. "Our sovereignty over it cannot be challenged; this means -- inter alia -- that residents of Jerusalem may purchase apartments in all parts of the city."
Israel has rejected calls by the US to suspend a planned housing project in East Jerusalem, positioning the two allies for a potential standoff over settlement construction. Israeli officials said on Sunday that Michael Oren, the country's ambassador to Washington, had been summoned to the state department and told that a project in the disputed section of the holy city should be abandoned. According to the Israeli Army Radio, the US has demanded that planning approval for the project, which is being developed by an American millionaire, be revoked. But Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, rejected the US demands, telling a cabinet meeting on Sunday that there would be no limits on Jewish construction anywhere in "unified Jerusalem".
Israel has rejected calls by the US to suspend a planned housing project in East Jerusalem, positioning the two allies for a potential standoff over settlement construction.
Israeli officials said on Sunday that Michael Oren, the country's ambassador to Washington, had been summoned to the state department and told that a project in the disputed section of the holy city should be abandoned.
According to the Israeli Army Radio, the US has demanded that planning approval for the project, which is being developed by an American millionaire, be revoked.
But Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, rejected the US demands, telling a cabinet meeting on Sunday that there would be no limits on Jewish construction anywhere in "unified Jerusalem".
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
