Netanyahu: We will continue to build in Jerusalem, 'our eternal capital'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his intention to continue building in occupied Jerusalem, rejecting the international criticism of illegal settlements.

In a ceremony held on Tuesday morning for laying the foundation stone of the new port in Ashdod in southern Israel, Anadolu news agency quoted Netanyahu as saying that, “We will continue to build in Jerusalem, our eternal capital. We have built in Jerusalem, we are building there now and we will continue to build there.”

Israeli sources said on Monday that Netanyahu “had approved schemes for the construction of 1,060 new housing units in Israeli settlements built on land in East Jerusalem,” a move that sparked international criticism, including from Washington.

According to the United Nations, East Jerusalem is recognised as occupied territory and the Palestinians have always demanded for it to be the capital of any future Palestinian state.

In remarks that his office sent to Anadolu, Netanyahu stated that, “I have heard a claim suggesting that the construction projects that we build in the Jewish neighbourhoods in Jerusalem make peace harder, but criticising such projects is what makes peace harder.”

He continued: “Such statements, that are far from reality, to encourage the Palestinians’ fantasy hopes. When Abu Mazen [Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas] incites the killing of Jews, the international community remains silent, but when we build in Jerusalem, the international community gets angry. I will not accept this double standard.”

“Just as the French build in Paris and the Brits build in London, Israelis are building in Jerusalem. We will continue to build in Jerusalem, as we will continue to build here in Ashdod,” he added.