By Xinhua,
Cairo : Egypt on Sunday strongly criticized Israel’s decision to build more than 800 housing units in east Jerusalem.
The Israeli move is threatening any hope for a peaceful solution to the Palestinian issue, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossam Zaki said in a statement.
The silence of the international community is “no longer acceptable,” the spokesman said, calling on the United States and the international Quartet to shoulder their responsibilities to halt the Israeli plan.
Israeli Housing Ministry published a bid on Sunday for the construction of more than 800 apartment units in east Jerusalem, the latest decision to build more houses in the disputed territory since the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks at the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference last November.
The plan has drawn harsh criticism from the Palestinian side and the international community, including Israel’s ally the United States.
The United States said such construction is unconducive to peace efforts, and the Palestinian side has accused Israel of sabotaging the peace talks.