U.N. concerned by building plans in East Jerusalem
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday he was "deeply concerned" by an Israeli government plan to build hundreds of new homes in disputed areas of East Jerusalem.
Ban, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, said he was "deeply concerned at the recent announcement by the Israeli government to invite new tenders for construction in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem."
"The Government of Israel's continued construction in settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is contrary to international law and to its commitments under the Road Map and the Annapolis process," the statement said.
On Sunday, Israel announced plans to build approximately 884 housing units in an area of the occupied West Bank the government considers part of Jerusalem.
The two areas are Pisgat Zeev and Har Homa, an area Palestinians refer to as Jabal Abu Ghneim.
Israeli Housing Minister Zeev Boim instructed his office to publish a tender to build additional housing units in the two areas as steps meant to "strengthen Jerusalem".
The announcement came just ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's meeting this week with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington as part of a three-day visit. Olmert has praised the housing plan.
The United States, as well as the Palestinians, have called for a halt to settlement expansion.
Olmert, in keeping with the previous government's policy, has vowed to keep West Bank settlement blocs, including enclaves near Jerusalem, under any future peace accord.
The 2003 peace "Road Map", reaffirmed by Israeli and Palestinian leaders at a conference hosted by Bush last year in Annapolis, Maryland, requires a halt to all settlement activity on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood.
Both of the areas slated for construction are located on lands captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war, and were incorporated into the municipal borders of Jerusalem in an act not recognized internationally.
Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a state they hope to establish in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. (Editing by Alan Elsner)
