US `deeply disappointed` by Israel settler homes plan
Washington: The United States said Wednesday it
was "deeply disappointed" by Israel`s announced plans to build new homes for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem.
"We are deeply disappointed," said State Department
spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, who said the move was
counter-productive to efforts to get direct negotiations
started again between Israel and the Palestinians.
The US reaction came hours after Israel approved a plan
to build 1,100 new homes in a Jewish settlement in East
Jerusalem, a move Palestinians slammed as a rejection of a
proposal by the so called Quartet -- the United Nations, EU,
United States and Russia -- for new peace talks.
The Quartet proposed a resumption of talks after the
Palestinian formally requested admission to the United Nations
as a full member state, a step vehemently opposed by Israel
and its closest ally, the United States.
Negotiations between the two sides broke off a year ago
following Israel`s refusal to extend a moratorium on
construction of settlement housing in the West Bank.
PTI
