The United States has demanded that Israel suspend a planned housing project in east Jerusalem following a complaint by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, senior Israeli officials said Sunday. This is the latest in disagreements between the US and Israel over settlements.
The Israeli officials confirmed that Israeli ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, was summoned to the US State Department and told that the housing project developed by American millionaire Irving Moskowitz, a longtime supporter of Israeli settlements, should be cancelled.
According to Israeli Army Radio, the US demanded that Israel revoke approval for the project.
Abbas reportedly told the Americans that the construction of Jewish housing in east Jerusalem would shift the demographic balance of east Jerusalem.
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
