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Israeli Settlement Plans Draw David Axelrod's Denouncement

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | March 15, 2010 at 07:21 am

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US : David Axelrod Demanding Cancellation of East Jerusalem Settlement: Israeli Ambassador says US-Israeli Relations 'Have Hit 35 year Low '

The United States is applying pressure to Israel, and has requested that it abandon its controversial plans to expand settlements within occupied East Jerusalem. The Associated Press has quoted officials - who remain unnamed - who have asserted that the US has asked it to cancel the settlement construction project.

The US has been said to be increasingly losing patience with Israel's insistence to push ahead with construction in the region, and in recent weeks President Obama has pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel the project.

According to Israel's Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, during a telephone briefing of Israeli diplomats he said the this was a low point in the past 35 years of US-Israeli relations, and that there is a deterioration of relations between the two countries.

Palestinians have claimed the section of East Jerusalem in which Israel planned to build 1600 apartments as their future capital. Senior US officials denounced the construction plan.

U.S. presidential adviser David Axelrod called the housing project insulting and destructive and called for its cancellation, adding that it appears calculated to undermine efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Not Recognized by International Law

The whole of Jerusalem has been claimed by Israel as its nation's capital, and it has rejected international calls to stop construction in East Jerusalem. The region was captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It was later annexed in a move not recognized under broad international law.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly said that construction of the apartments in East Jerusalem will continue as planned.

Calls to Boycott the Construction Plans

There have been increasing calls from the US to boycott the construction project due to its making US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan even more vulnerable , as has been asserted by Vice President Biden. "Every American can shun Israeli products" was the call of Huffington Post OpEd journalist Robert Naiman. Naiman is careful to make the distinction between divesting from Israel, and divesting only from this particular occupied settlement plan. It is the latter which he endorses.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret Sunday about the timing of the housing approval, which came during a visit to Israel by Vice President Joe Biden. Biden condemned the housing announcement. But, Mr. Netanyahu did not say he will cancel the project.
The Israeli construction plan also has raised tensions in Jerusalem. Israeli police restricted Palestinian access to Muslim shrines in Jerusalem's Old City for a fourth day Monday, saying the move is aimed at preventing disturbances.

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Paul Conneally

at 08:21 on March 15th, 2010

This story was featured earlier on NowPublic:
Obama Presses Netanyahu To Cancel Ramat Shlomo Settlement Plan

Spydermonkey

at 10:17 on March 15th, 2010

Moves like this from Israel tend to convince me they have no real desire to make peace, just plains for expansion regardless of the consequences...

YankeeJim

at 12:19 on March 15th, 2010

Audacious and arrogant are words that apply to Israel these days. There appears no more promise for peace in Israel's actions as there is promise for crippled Palestinians.