US concerned by Israel settlement expansion in East Jerusalem

The United States expressed concern over Israel’s decision to build 200 new housing units in East Jerusalem, it also condemned the burning of a mosque in the West Bank.

In a press briefing yesterday, State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said: “In terms of the settlements, we – or the announcement, I should say, of new housing units in East Jerusalem – we are deeply concerned by this decision, particularly given the tense situation in Jerusalem as well as the unequivocal and unanimous position of the United States and others in the international community opposing such construction in East Jerusalem.”

“These decisions to expand construction have the potential to exacerbate this difficult situation on the ground, and they will not contribute to efforts to reduce the tensions. So we will certainly continue to emphasize privately, as I just said publicly, our concerns,” she explained.

The Local Committee for Planning and Building, a subsidiary of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, yesterday ratified a decision to build 200 new housing units in the Ramot settlement in East Jerusalem.

Psaki went on to condemn the burning of a mosque in the West Bank, saying: “The United States condemns the attack against a mosque in the West Bank. We believe that such hateful and provocative actions against a place of worship are never justified.”

Calling for “law enforcement officials to quickly investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of this attack. We encourage local authorities to work together with the community to reduce tension, to defend religious freedom, and to work against incitement.”

Yesterday, extremist Israeli settlers burned parts of a mosque in the village of Al-Mugheir, east of Ramallah. Witnesses said the ground floor was completely burnt.

Psaki announced that US Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled his planned visit to the UAE scheduled to take place tomorrow but did not give a reason as to why.