Obama calls east Jerusalem construction plans 'unhelpful'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
11/09/2010 14:49
EU's Ashton "extremely concerned" at plan to build 1,345 units; PA negotiator Erekat calls on int'l community to counter Israel by recognizing Palestinian state.
US President Barack Obama criticized Israel on Tuesday at a news conference in Indonesia, following Monday's announcement that Israel has advanced plans to build 1,345 homes in east Jerusalem.
"This kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotiations," Obama said during a visit to Jakarta.
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Also on Tuesday, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called on the international community to counter Israel's latest construction plans by recognizing a Palestinian state.
"Israeli unilateralism is a call for immediate international recognition of the Palestinian state," he said, according to a Reuters report.
Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton added her comments on the issue, saying she is "extremely concerned by the announcement that Israel plans to go ahead with the construction of 1,300 new housing units in east Jerusalem," in a statement.
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