Israel's interior ministry tonight announced approval for 1,600 new homes in an East Jerusalem settlement, casting a cloud over a visit by US vice-president, Joe Biden, just hours after he pledged his strong support for the Israeli government.The new approvals, for homes in Ramat Shlomo, an ultra-Orthodox settlement near Shuafat, came just a day after the Israeli defence ministry announced 112 new apartments would be built in Beitar Illit, a settlement on the occupied West Bank. The new building comes at a delicate moment in the long-stalled peace process when Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to start indirect negotiations. The latest approvals were announced by the interior ministry, which said they had been passed by the Jerusalem district planning committee. A spokeswoman said there were 60 days to appeal against the decision.
Israel's interior ministry tonight announced approval for 1,600 new homes in an East Jerusalem settlement, casting a cloud over a visit by US vice-president, Joe Biden, just hours after he pledged his strong support for the Israeli government.
The new approvals, for homes in Ramat Shlomo, an ultra-Orthodox settlement near Shuafat, came just a day after the Israeli defence ministry announced 112 new apartments would be built in Beitar Illit, a settlement on the occupied West Bank.
The new building comes at a delicate moment in the long-stalled peace process when Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to start indirect negotiations. The latest approvals were announced by the interior ministry, which said they had been passed by the Jerusalem district planning committee. A spokeswoman said there were 60 days to appeal against the decision.
