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Last update - 22:52 19/07/2009
'U.S. tells Israel to halt East Jerusalem building'
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: settlements, Israel News 

The United States has told Israel it must halt an East Jerusalem construction project in accordance with the Obama administration's demands for a complete freeze on settlement building, Israeli radio stations reported on Sunday.

The State Department summoned Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren over the weekend to advise him that the project developed by American millionaire Irving Moskowitz should not go ahead, according to both Israel Radio and Army Radio.

Moskowitz, an influential supporter of Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem, purchased the Shepherd Hotel in 1985 and plans to tear it down and build housing units in its place. The hotel is located near a government compound that includes several government ministries and the national police headquarters.
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The approval, granted by the Jerusalem municipality earlier this month, allows for the construction of 20 apartments plus a three-level underground parking lot.

In response, Oren told the State Department that Israeli construction in East Jerusalem was no different than in any other part of the country.

Jerusalem could not be considered along the same lines as settlements, he said, adding that Israel would not accede to this demand.

The Jerusalem municipality issued a statement following the report, saying the purchase was legal and it had acted with full transparency in granting building permits.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy had no immediate comment.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem was not a matter up for discussion, no matter the U.S. requests.

Netanyahu told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting that Jerusalem is the united capital of Israel and that all citizens are allowed to purchase property in any part of the city they choose.

This is the policy of an open city, he said, and Israel would not accept a stance that counters that civil right.

The international community considers Jewish neighborhoods in the east of the city to be settlements and an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.

Israel regards communities in the area annexed during the 1967 Six-Day war to be a legitimate part of the state.

Meanwhile, Palestinian officials said on Saturday they were worried the U.S. administration was close to an interim agreement with Israel on settlement construction.

According to information that has reached the Palestinian Authority, Israel will not completely halt construction in the settlements but will limit it drastically to the point of almost stopping it. In exchange, Arab countries will implement previously discussed concessions - among them, allowing Israeli planes to cross their airspace and opening diplomatic missions.

The PA will discuss this with U.S. special Middle East envoy George Mitchell in Ramallah this week.

Sources in the PA said that "half-solutions" are unacceptable and that Israel must completely stop construction in the settlements.

The Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam reported on Saturday that Mitchell is to inform PA President Mahmoud Abbas by phone that the U.S. administration has been unable to obtain Israel's consent to stop construction completely.

Senior Palestinian officials have been following ambiguous statements made by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has hinted that an agreement with Israel is in the offing.

Senior officials say American assent to even limited Israeli construction in the settlements would once again damage the American position as an honest broker in the Middle East. U.S. President Barack Obama told American Jewish leaders last week that his clear position against settlements has strengthened his position as an honest broker with the Arabs.

Over the past few days, Abbas has reiterated concerns over continued construction in the settlements, saying he would not renew negotiations with Israel as long as such construction persisted. However, senior Palestinian officials said that soon after the Obama administration reaches an agreement with Israel and the Arab countries, it intends to renew negotiations on a final status agreement. If the PA refuses to join, as Abbas apparently articulated, it will appear to be obstructing the peace process.

In any case, the PA will probably seek to postpone talks until after the Sixth Fatah Congress and general elections, scheduled for August 4. Sources in the PA said talks between Hamas and Fatah, which were to resume between July 25-28, would probably be postponed until after the Fatah Congress opens in Bethlehem.

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      1.   PA fears are justified 03:03  |  WHG 19/07/09
      2.   Based On the past. You can`t blame the PAs. 03:24  |  Ed 19/07/09
      3.   America vs PA Islamist-Jihadists 03:31  |  Brod 19/07/09
      4.   Compromise on settlement issue 03:43  |  Ice 19/07/09
      5.   Compromise with those who are uncompromising is futile 03:57  |  jj 19/07/09
      6.   Missing an opportunity once again 04:26  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 19/07/09
      7.   HOW did PA contribute to peace? - Arafat`s intofada! Tolerance... 06:00  |  Vittorio 19/07/09
      8.   Brod About dancing in the NY streets 06:11  |  American 19/07/09
      9.   Brod - What on earth are you talking about? 06:14  |  CJ 19/07/09
      10.   The problem sits with the so-called broker 06:21  |  maoriboy 19/07/09
      11.   What have Arab countries done for the Palestinian people? 06:34  |  Maureen Ann 19/07/09
      12.   All or nothing, again 06:56  |  Chappaqua neighbor 19/07/09
      13.   The PA has has no answer to Bibi`s offer or to Hamas 07:27  |  martin knopfman 19/07/09
      14.   Most so called Muslims don`t even know the Koran 07:30  |  Jane 19/07/09
      15.   If Obama OKs settlements, then prapare plan B 07:36  |  Natallie Durson 19/07/09
      16.   Obama and legal right. 07:58  |  B. Gold 19/07/09
      17.   Tension and war will increase 08:41  |  Gordon Brown 19/07/09
      18.   Honest Broker 08:51  |  Iletzter 19/07/09
      19.   13 Martin - A non-State with NO Independence 09:18  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/07/09
      20.   Ban on US building 09:59  |  Ex-US Citizen 19/07/09
      21.   halt housing 10:09  |  Ralph 19/07/09
      22.   President Obama, your objection is duly noted. 10:11  |  Ki`emli 19/07/09
      23.   End the Occupation! 10:23  |  Abbushuki 19/07/09
      24.   B. Gold - No Sovereign state has a right to territory outside 10:31  |  CJ 19/07/09
      25.   Jane - LOL the Koran is not International law. 10:33  |  CJ 19/07/09
      26.   Keep building in israel 10:42  |  Tarzan 19/07/09
      27.   no more american money will come to you 10:45  |  guardian of stolen 19/07/09
      28.   Needed: polite but firm rejection 10:52  |  Moshe 19/07/09
      29.   Israel vs Obama administration 10:55  |  Brod 19/07/09
      30.   Israel obligation 10:57  |  thomas 19/07/09
      31.   # 23 abbushuki from LA 10:58  |  Axel 19/07/09
      32.   Quid pro quo: stop rewards to suicide bomber families 11:00  |  JPS 19/07/09
      33.   CHUTZPAMA 11:03  |  Zev 19/07/09
      34.   Language 11:13  |  Abbushuki 19/07/09
      35.   Jane, The Palestinians are what is remotely left of the Children. 11:24  |  Bandar Michaels 19/07/09
      36.   When Israel tells the U.S. what to do in Washington, DC only then 11:29  |  Amihai 19/07/09
      37.   Tarzan - ??? Jerusalem was not legally annexed 11:30  |  CJ 19/07/09
      38.   4 State solution 11:32  |  k 19/07/09
      39.   Moshe - Sovereign countries have borders 11:33  |  CJ 19/07/09
      40.   Brod - The US is part of the UNSC it IS their right 11:37  |  CJ 19/07/09
      41.   Cut off all US aid and impose economic sanctions ban travel 11:38  |  Joseph Steinberg 19/07/09
      42.   for Guardian of stolen #27 11:48  |  Rozz 19/07/09
      43.   There is only one way to discuss with Jerusalem 11:51  |  un2here 19/07/09
      44.   To CJ 12:04  |  Michael J 19/07/09
      45.   ...stop building in Jerusalem 12:17  |  Rachel Simson 19/07/09
      46.   Abbas should immediately declare "UDI". 12:28  |  ronnie 19/07/09
      47.   Jeusalem is Jewish as Washington is American and should not be... 12:41  |  B. Gold 19/07/09
      48.   NO SETTLEMENTS! 12:41  |  john and the truth 19/07/09
      49.   ?Palestinian? interest in the Temple Mount starts in 1967. 12:44  |  B. Gold 19/07/09
      50.   To tell Jews not to reside in certain neighborhood is RACISM!!! 12:50  |  Avihu 19/07/09
      51.   # 35 Bandar Michaels: 12:50  |  17 19/07/09
      52.   24 13:01  |  zionist forever 19/07/09
      53.   totally illogical 13:05  |  Faris 19/07/09
      54.   Time for U.S. to discount cost of settlements from aid $ 13:05  |  Danny 19/07/09
      55.   No normalization 13:07  |  Faris 19/07/09
      56.   Racism, yes, racism is asking Jews not to live anywhere on earth 13:26  |  Benjamin Small 19/07/09
      57.   #25 - seems like you missed the point 13:28  |  Jane 19/07/09
      58.   Barak Husein Obama should stop his demands ind innovations. There 13:35  |  Vittorio 19/07/09
      59.   #35 you said who the Jews aren`t but who are the Palestinians? 13:38  |  Jane 19/07/09
      60.   Obama doesn`t get it...yet! 13:53  |  US CITIZEN 19/07/09
      61.   CJ How does Arab armies ethnic cleansing of the Jewish quater in 13:57  |  PETER SM 19/07/09
      62.   If plan B does`nt suceed, then prepare plan C 14:01  |  Israeli citizen 19/07/09
      63.   Israel bats 1,00 Obama bats zero 14:03  |  petra 19/07/09
      64.   Faris Pals time has come and gone. 14:11  |  petra 19/07/09
      65.   Having legitimized the conquest of Kossovo by the . . . 14:14  |  Zev Davis 19/07/09
      66.   L`Shana Haba B`Yerushalayim HABNUYAH 14:16  |  Zev 19/07/09
      67.   To Faris that isn`t occupied palestinian land 14:19  |  Jason 19/07/09
      68.   To Faris The UN wanted to make East Jerusalem international 14:22  |  Jason 19/07/09
      69.   CJ Sydney boo hoo. 14:24  |  petra 19/07/09
      70.   Obama has allowed himself to become a puppet of the islamic world 14:30  |  zionist forever 19/07/09
      71.   BANDAR MICHAELS then why do Pals/Arabs refer to the Jews as Jews? 14:33  |  PETER SM 19/07/09
      72.   US Congress&Pres.Harding signed "Balfour"establishing buildings! 14:35  |  sam 19/07/09
      73.   The US and Jerusalem. 14:35  |  Stephen. 19/07/09
      74.   Danny wrong again! 14:41  |  petra 19/07/09
      75.   # 67 petra 15:09  |  Axel 19/07/09
      76.   And if plan C does not go, then prepare plan D 15:21  |  Israeli citizen 19/07/09
      77.   Abbas said no to Olmert on getting Jerusalem Arab neighbourhoods 15:23  |  Sam 19/07/09
      78.   Israelis still can`t see what is happening right in front of them 15:42  |  Natallie Durson 19/07/09
      79.   US must quit mouthing platutudes, speak softly, USE BIG STICK 15:42  |  Ivar 19/07/09
      80.   Obama is always talking about the "five pillars" 15:52  |  Lynn 19/07/09
      81.   "NO JEWS OR DOGS ALLOWED" 15:52  |  Steve of Mevaserret 19/07/09
      82.   #25 CJ...if the OIC had its way 15:59  |  Lynn 19/07/09
      83.   MY government has no right to tell Israel where to build 16:01  |  IW 19/07/09
      84.   zionist whatever - the word Yerushalayim is meaningless in Arabic 16:02  |  Danny 19/07/09
      85.   #3 Brod. I agree with you but, 16:10  |  John 19/07/09
      86.   Durson, let`s prepare other plans 16:25  |  Israeli citizen 19/07/09
      87.   By not freezing the settlements Israel may lose some of Jerusalem 16:32  |  S 19/07/09
      88.   #17 Gordon Brown 16:34  |  John 19/07/09
      89.   Michael J - save your personal attacks for pre-school 16:40  |  CJ 19/07/09
      90.   #24 CJ You need to get educated. 16:45  |  John 19/07/09
      91.   us tells israel... 16:45  |  shimshon kinory 19/07/09
      92.   Avihu - Sovereign states have Sovereign borders... 16:46  |  CJ 19/07/09
      93.   zionist forever - So Israel ISN`T a Sovereignty?? 16:57  |  CJ 19/07/09
      94.   Jane - The Koran is not International law 17:03  |  CJ 19/07/09
      95.   #46 Ronnie, what is UDI? 17:08  |  John 19/07/09
      96.   PETER SM - Jerusalem Arab?? You`re addressing the wrong guy 17:12  |  CJ 19/07/09
      97.   Jason -- "The UN says ..." ????? 17:16  |  CJ 19/07/09
      98.   Brod #29 17:19  |  SAM 19/07/09
      99.   petra #69 17:20  |  CJ 19/07/09
      100.   petra #69 17:21  |  CJ 19/07/09
      101.   settlements 17:34  |  bob 19/07/09
      102.   Typical of this government....if the land in East Jerusalem 17:42  |  Smadar 19/07/09
      103.   Ivar # 79 That Isn`t Even On The Agenda 17:59  |  Jeff Northridge 19/07/09
      104.   petra 69 18:01  |  Jasper 19/07/09
      105.   Brod 18:04  |  wibism 19/07/09
      106.   84 18:06  |  zionist forever 19/07/09
      107.   # 94 CJ re jason 18:20  |  Axel 19/07/09
      108.   JESUSALEN 18:27  |  JESUSALEN 19/07/09
      109.   No more aid, UN Sanctions 18:31  |  An American 19/07/09
      110.   #88 John I am the BRITISH PM. Should you be home alone 18:31  |  Gordon Brown 19/07/09
      111.   93 18:36  |  zionist forever 19/07/09
      112.   John ...How strange.... you support the breaking of the law... 18:39  |  CJ 19/07/09
      113.   #107 Axel 18:46  |  CJ 19/07/09
      114.   Petra, you`re either confused... 18:56  |  Rachel Rabin 19/07/09
      115.   #111 zionist forever 19:04  |  CJ 19/07/09
      116.   # 113 CJ 19:09  |  Axel 19/07/09
      117.   State Dept. J-lem "demand" isn`t even legal under US law 19:15  |  Dr. L. Brnd 19/07/09
      118.   Jeff Northridge - unilateral annexation is illegal 19:16  |  CJ 19/07/09
      119.   So Nathalie. Plan B or Obama`s tough initiative ? 19:23  |  arik 19/07/09
      120.   Axel - Israel`s borders are in 181. 19:25  |  CJ 19/07/09
      121.   Dr. L. Brnd 19:30  |  CJ 19/07/09
      122.   KEY TO PEACE: Officially Recognize Facts as Spoken By Our Leaders 19:44  |  Rachel Rabin 19/07/09
      123.   Peace process neds a fair broker 19:45  |  Yaseen 19/07/09
      124.   # 120 CJ 20:01  |  Axel 19/07/09
      125.   Axel and you never learn 20:08  |  petra 19/07/09
      126.   #64 and 67 Jason and petra 20:13  |  Faris 19/07/09
      127.   CJ`s "it is illegal to acquire territory by war".Are you sure? 20:14  |  You can 19/07/09
      128.   Rachel Rabin? Or, just another muslim? 20:15  |  petra 19/07/09
      129.   Yaseem the problem is 20:22  |  petra 19/07/09
      130.   CJ Sydney? 20:43  |  petra 19/07/09
      131.   Jasper ha ha 20:46  |  petra 19/07/09
      132.   Jasper I know. 20:53  |  petra 19/07/09
      133.   I see a lot of foreigners posting here 21:54  |  Foreigner 19/07/09
      134.   US. tell Israel 22:01  |  Elias 19/07/09
      135.   #63 Petra in the USA 22:49  |  jennifer 19/07/09
      136.   To jennifer (# 135). Are you also asking Obama to leave the U.S.? 23:11  |  flyingdoc57 19/07/09
      137.   #125 Petra, I pitty you... 23:21  |  Rachel Rabin 19/07/09
      138.   Terratorial Expansion 23:30  |  rwr 19/07/09
      139.   CJ Confused? "Pals only claiming their rights" 23:43  |  PETER SM 19/07/09
      140.   To Jane 23:44  |  Muslim 19/07/09
      141.   the funding of the settlements 23:46  |  Jay 19/07/09
      142.   To Jane 23:52  |  muslim 19/07/09
      143.   Racism in East Jerusalem 00:23  |  Stephen Connor 20/07/09
      144.   We should mind our own business 02:01  |  ghostoflutherblisset 20/07/09
      145.   Justified 02:05  |  Amir 20/07/09
      146.   Build. End of discussion. 03:13  |  17 20/07/09
      147.   CJ # 118 Unilateral Annexations 03:38  |  Jeff Northridge 20/07/09
      148.   The Obama Administration is acting immorally and foolishly 05:18  |  Shalom Freedman 20/07/09
      149.   CJ A Sovereign State has borders under normal circumstances 05:40  |  PETER SM 20/07/09
      150.   We shall not, we shall not be moved. We shall not, we shall not 05:55  |  Amihai 20/07/09
      151.   #124 Axel 06:12  |  CJ 20/07/09
      152.   Re Cj 06:15  |  shlomog 20/07/09
      153.   #127 You can ... ??? 06:17  |  CJ 20/07/09
      154.   Dear Natallie 06:19  |  RME 20/07/09
      155.   Obama stop signing those checks... 06:25  |  Marc Leb 20/07/09
      156.   PETER SM - 242 is about a peace agreement, not borders... 06:39  |  CJ 20/07/09
      157.   petra - quite bizarre 07:20  |  CJ 20/07/09
      158.   CJ "Pals only claiming their rights""Refugees mean end of Israel" 07:30  |  PETER SM 20/07/09
      159.   #138 PETER claims Israeli exceptionalism 07:36  |  Johnboy 20/07/09
      160.   East Jerusalem construction=illegal outposts 07:40  |  Michael N 20/07/09
      161.   Israel is building more settlements to make more room 07:55  |  MMM 20/07/09
      162.   Guardian of stolen...Israel doesn`t need US money 07:58  |  MMM 20/07/09
      163.   Bravo Brod! 08:00  |  Maria 20/07/09
      164.   MMM, ya` know what`s even funnier? 09:46  |  Zev Davis 20/07/09
      165.   141 Funny,I can understand the Palestinians singing the song 10:58  |  lydia 20/07/09
      166.   CJ are you Johnboy`s brother? 11:07  |  Peter Williams 20/07/09
      167.   JOHNBOY claims ignorance of UNSCR 242 11:47  |  PETER SM 20/07/09
      168.   CJ Lord Carandon Not prepared to recommend1967borders as permanen 12:01  |  PETER SM 20/07/09
      169.   CJ Lord Carandon Not prepared to recommend1967borders as permanen 13:45  |  PETER SM 20/07/09
      170.   Like cuttin` off a dog`s tail; might as well get it over with. 14:06  |  Analyst Jack 20/07/09
      171.   Sorry Obama, East Jerusalem has belonged to Israel since `67 ! 19:50  |  Daniel 20/07/09
      172.   #161 Just shout out the matra and be done with it, Peter 04:58  |  Johnboy 21/07/09
      173.   Intentional Ignorance 22:27  |  Sam 21/07/09
      174.   I concur 22:32  |  Sam 21/07/09
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