US deeply disappointed by Israels new houses plan

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US deeply disappointed by Israels new houses plan

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State Department says the proposed construction of new houses is counterproductive to peace process.

27 September,2011 11:58 pm

The United States said on Tuesday that Israels decision to approve construction of 1,100 homes for Jews in East Jerusalem was “counterproductive and urged both Israel and the Palestinians not to take steps which could complicate resumption of direct peace talks.“We are deeply disappointed by this mornings announcement by the government of Israel,’ State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.“We consider this counterproductive to our efforts to resume direct negotiations between the parties and we have long urged both parties to avoid actions which could undermine trust, including in Jerusalem, and will continue to work with parties to try to resume direct negotiations.”The new homes are to be built in Gilo, an urban settlement that Israel erected on land it captured in the 1967 war and annexed unilaterally as part of its declared capital, Jerusalem.Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority were suspended in September 2010 when Israel stated its moratorium on new housing settlements would be permitted to lapse.