Israel’s approval to construct 1,600 housing units for young ultra-orthodox families in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo Tuesday, enraged Palestinian Authority officials who warned the move could torpedo talks.
 

The announcement of the planned construction by the Interior Ministry’s Regional Planning and Building Committee, came days after Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the construction of 112 housing units in the religious community of Beitar Illit in Judea and Samaria.

While Israel said the preliminary approval to build the units had been made before a temporary construction freeze was imposed on Judea and Samaria, the announcement angered the Palestinian Authority, who accused Israel of destroying all chances of resuming negotiations between the sides.
 

Palestinian officials on Tuesday slammed Israel’s decision to build 1,600 units in Ramat Shlomo. Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat said  Israel’s decision destroys the trust between the sides to move forward. "With such an announcement, how can you build trust? This is destroying our efforts to work with Mr. Mitchell," Erekat said. "It's a really disastrous situation. I hope that this will be an eye-opener for all in the international community about the need to have the Israeli government stop such futile exercises."
 

Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina called the decision a dangerous one. “The decision to build 1,600 units, settlement units in occupied Jerusalem is a dangerous decision liable to torpedo negotiations and make U.S. efforts fail before they have even started,” he said Tuesday evening,

“It is now clear that the government of Israel is not interested in negotiations or peace.” Abu Rudeina called on the U.S. to condemn the steps, saying massive U.S. pressure is required to compel Israel to stop this behavior that is destroying the peace process.
 

Minister of Interior Eli Yishai defended the decision,saying the plans had been waiting for  three years to receive approval, He denied that the timing was intentional or linked to the visit of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

A ministry spokeswoman noted the final approval process will be a lengthy one. The public will have sixty days to appeal the plans, she said.
 

A statement released by the ministry committee headed by Ruth Yosef, said the new construction will expand the ultra-orthodox community in the East Jerusalem neighborhood to the east and to the south and that at least 30 per cent of the apartments will be allocated to young couples. The plan also includes the building of public facilities including a large park.
 

Meir Margalit, Jerusalem’s Meretz representative on the city council, accused Yishai of purposely trying to disrupt Biden’s visit and said the timing of the announcement was not coincidental. “The fact that Eli Yishai could not restrain himself for another two or three days until Biden left Israel shows his intention was a slap in the face to the U.S. administration and a provocation to the U.S. and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s efforts to start negotiations with the Palestinian Authority," he said.