Biden Blasts Israel for New Building Plans

JERUSALEM (March 9) -- Visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden had unusually harsh words for Israel after the government approved 1,600 new homes in an ultra-Orthodox East Jerusalem neighborhood. The new construction was announced as Israel and the Palestinians were set to resume U.S.-mediated "proximity" talks after more than a year without any negotiations.

"I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem," Biden said. "The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive decisions that I've had here in Israel."

The homes are to be built in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo. A statement by the Interior Ministry said "the Jerusalem District Planning Committee today approved a plan which has been in the works for over three years. This is a procedural stage in the framework of a long process that will yet continue for some time. The committee meeting was determined in advance and there is no connection to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel."

A senior Israeli official said the decision did not come from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

"We were surprised and had no knowledge of it," he told AOL News.

The timing of the announcement seems curious, given that Biden is here partly to shore up U.S.-Israeli relations, which have been somewhat tense since President Barack Obama took office.

Israel's continued expansion of settlements has been a major sticking point between Washington and Jerusalem. Israel considers East Jerusalem, which Israel unilaterally annexed in 1967, a part of its sovereign capital, and therefore does not see Jewish neighborhoods there as settlements. The U.S. position has consistently been that there should be no such construction until talks clarify the final status of East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians see as the future capital of a Palestinian state.

The issue has overshadowed Biden's first day of meetings with Israeli officials. He too seemed stunned by the Israeli decision.

"We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them," he said, chiding Israel. "The United States recognizes that Jerusalem is a deeply important issue for Israelis and Palestinians and for Jews, Muslims and Christians."

A statement from the Palestinian Authority was even harsher, saying the Israeli decision "ended efforts to renew negotiations with Israel."

The Interior Ministry, which is headed by ultra-Orthodox Shas cabinet minister Eli Yishai, said that at least 30 percent of the new houses will be earmarked for young couples, and that public facilities and new parks would also be added.

Some dovish politicians in Israel accused Yishai of trying to torpedo Biden's visit here.

"The fact that Eli Yishai couldn't restrain himself for another two or three days until Biden left Israel means his intention was to slap the U.S. administration in the face," said Meir Margalit, a member of the Jerusalem city council.

Before the announcement, Biden held a long meeting with Netanyahu, telling the Israeli prime minister that "the U.S. will always stand by those who take risks for peace."

Biden will meet Palestinian leaders Wednesday and is expected to hear more sharp criticism of Israel's decision.