Israel’s foreign minister calls east Jerusalem construction freeze “unreasonable” demand
By APTuesday, March 16, 2010
Lieberman: Freeze demand ‘unreasonable’
JERUSALEM — Israel’s foreign minister says it’s “unreasonable” for the international community to expect Israel to freeze construction in east Jerusalem.
Israeli building there has caused the most serious rift with the U.S. in decades.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio on Tuesday that demands to halt the construction “are unreasonable as far as we are concerned.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday defended four decades of construction for Israelis in east Jerusalem. Palestinians claim east Jerusalem for their future capital.
The feud erupted last week after Israel approved the construction of 1,600 new apartments in east Jerusalem during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit. The U.S. says the move was “insulting.”
