Netanyahu 'Surprised' by U.S. Demand
Aaron Klein
 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu |
JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was taken by "surprise" by a U.S. demand over the weekend to immediately halt a Jewish constriction project in eastern Jerusalem.
"I was surprised by the U.S. move," Netanyahu was quoted by his advisers as saying yesterday. "In my conversation with [U.S. President Barack] Obama in Washington, I told him that I could not accept any limitations on our sovereignty in Jerusalem. I told him Jerusalem is not a settlement, and it has nothing to do with discussions on a freeze."
According to a source in Netanyahu's office speaking to WND, the Israeli leader has been disappointed by a lack of communication between his office and key U.S. government institutions, including the White House.
The Obama administration has called for a halt to Jewish construction in eastern Jerusalem and the strategic West Bank in line with Palestinian claims on eastern Jerusalem as a future capital, even though the city was never a part of any Palestinian entity.
The construction project at the center of attention, financed by Miami Beach philanthropist Irving Moskowitz, is located just meters from Israel's national police headquarters and other government ministries and is a few blocks from the country's prestigious Hebrew University, underscoring the centrality of the Jewish real estate being condemned by the U.S.
Netanyahu strongly rejected the State Department demand, telling a cabinet meeting that Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem was not a matter up for discussion.
"Imagine what would happen if someone were to suggest Jews could not live in or purchase [property] in certain neighborhoods in London, New York, Paris or Rome," he said.
"The international community would certainly raise protest. Likewise, we cannot accept such a ruling on East Jerusalem," Netanyahu told ministers.
Netanyahu explained an open city does not discriminate against Jewish housing and that Israel would not accept a stance that counters that civil right.
"Israeli Arabs are not forbidden from buying houses in west Jerusalem, and Jews must be granted the same right in the eastern part of the city," he added.
WND has confirmed that over the weekend the State Department summoned Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren to urge him to reject a permit granted to Moskowtz's housing project.
Moskowitz purchased an eastern Jerusalem hotel. He plans to tear it down and build housing units in its place. The Jerusalem municipality earlier this month granted approval to the project, allowing for the construction of 20 apartments plus a three-level underground parking lot.