Israel has revealed plans to build 3,000 new homes for its settlers in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, following the Palestinian Authority's successful United Nations recognition bid.Israeli officials, speaking to the media on condition of anonymity, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government had authorized the building plans, as well as preliminary zoning work in other areas of the West Bank.
The White House described the decision as "counterproductive," with spokesman Tommy Vieto saying these actions make it harder to resume direct negotiations or achieve a two-state solution.
The Israeli move has angered the Palestinians, who are celebrating a historic U.N. General Assembly vote upgrading the status of the Palestinian Authority to that of a non-member observer state.
Palestinians were especially cheered by the 138 U.N. members who voted in favor late Thursday. They said it added legitimacy to their claim for Palestinian statehood and added weight to their position in peace negotiations with Israel.
Nine countries, including Israel and the United States, opposed the resolution. Forty-one, including Britain and Germany, abstained, but the bid was endorsed by a large number of European Union members.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor addresses the U.N. General Assembly in New York, November 29, 2012.
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Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor addresses the U.N. General Assembly in New York, November 29, 2012.
The White House described the decision as "counterproductive," with spokesman Tommy Vieto saying these actions make it harder to resume direct negotiations or achieve a two-state solution.
The Israeli move has angered the Palestinians, who are celebrating a historic U.N. General Assembly vote upgrading the status of the Palestinian Authority to that of a non-member observer state.
Palestinians were especially cheered by the 138 U.N. members who voted in favor late Thursday. They said it added legitimacy to their claim for Palestinian statehood and added weight to their position in peace negotiations with Israel.
Nine countries, including Israel and the United States, opposed the resolution. Forty-one, including Britain and Germany, abstained, but the bid was endorsed by a large number of European Union members.
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Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor addresses the U.N. General Assembly in New York, November 29, 2012.