What is the U.S. position on Israeli actions in Jerusalem?
On March 9, during the visit of Vice President Joe Biden, Israel announced 1,600 new settlement units would be built in the occupied East Jerusalem settlement of Ramat Shlomo. Biden condemned the accouncement, calling it “precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now…” There is considerable Palestinian concern, however, that American officials will offer little more than condemnation and prove unwilling to exact the consequences necessary to pressure Israel to cease such provocative actions. Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized to Biden for the timing of the announcement, but pointedly has not revoked the action. On the contrary, Israeli officials are vehemently asserting a right to build wherever they desire in Jerusalem. For example, a tender to build a further 309 units in the occupied East Jerusalem settlement of Neve Yaakov exacerbated the situation when announced on March 16. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone for
