Middle East News
Germany criticizes Israeli plan to build houses in East Jerusalem
Dec 19, 2011, 11:53 GMT
Berlin - Germany criticized Israel on Monday for proceeding with plans to build 1,028 apartments in East Jerusalem.
The announcement was a 'devastating signal' for Middle East peace negotiations, deputy government spokesman Georg Streiter said. Berlin urgently appealed to Israel to halt the expansion of Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The call for tenders by the Housing Ministry on Sunday 'undermines belief in Israel's willingness to negotiate,' he said.
Over the past year, Germany, which has been a strong backer of Israel for decades, has vented increasingly public impatience about the settlements in Palestinian areas.
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