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Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rejected on Wednesday the condemnations of Israel over the decision to build 1,100 new housing units in Jerusalem’s Gilo neighborhood.
The plan, which was approved by the Interior Ministry, will see 20 percent of the units in Jerusalem’s southern neighborhood allotted for young couples.
It will be subject to 60 days of public debate before final approval from Jerusalem municipal authorities, and also includes the construction of a boardwalk, public structures, and a commercial center.
The plan was met with criticism by U.S. and European Union officials, with the U.S. saying the move was “deeply disappointing” and “counterproductive.”
Top EU diplomat Catherine Ashton said that the plan “should be reversed. Settlement activity threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution and runs contrary to the Israeli-stated commitment to resume negotiations.”
The Palestinian Authority also railed against the approval, saying the new construction project is “a unilateral move by Israel that undermines Palestinian efforts to build a state with East Jerusalem as its capital" and "an obstacle to the peace process.”
