US officials keeping tabs on Jerusalem construction
Ranking US officials have begun monitoring construction in east Jerusalem and other areas.
According to Hebrew daily Makor Rishon, the US ambassador to Israel, the US consul-general in Jerusalem and other officials demand regular updates from Israeli ministers associated with building committees.
As a result of that pressure, building permits for thousands of new housing units in Jerusalem have been held up indefinitely. Government officials have confirmed that there is an unofficial freeze on Jewish construction in Jerusalem because of the US pressure.
Mayor Nir Barkat on Monday insisted there is no building freeze. “The municipality will continue to promote construction throughout all parts of the city, for Jews and Arabs alike,” he said in a statement.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday told London-based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat that Washington had guaranteed him there would be no “provocations” by Israel during the proximity talks scheduled to take place next week under US mediation.
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