US Vice-President Joe Biden has condemned Israel's approval of 1,600 new homes for ultra-orthodox Jews in east Jerusalem.
Mr. Biden, in Israel as part of us attempts to kick-start the peace process, said it was "the kind of step that undermines the trust we need". He said the Israelis and Palestinians needed to build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them, adding that this announcement underscores the need to get negotiations under way that can resolve all the outstanding issues of the conflict." Palestinian authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP news agency: "this is a dangerous decision and will hinder the negotiations. The international community considers east Jerusalem occupied territory. Building on occupied land is illegal under international law, but Israel regards east Jerusalem - which it annexed in 1967 - as its territory. The Palestinians refuse to hold face-to-face negotiations with the Israelis unless they halt all settlement building in the occupied west bank, where the Palestinians want their future state.
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