Jewish residents of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel and the Jewish people, can purchase homes in any area of the city just like Arab residents can, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting. Earlier, at a Likud party meeting, the prime minister stated that Jerusalem is not included in discussions with the U.S. about a settlement freeze.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also spoke out against attempts to shut down Jewish building in Jerusalem. “This idea is strange. Thousands of Arab families buy homes in Jerusalem and I never heard any complaints from the U.S. or Europe. Yet Jews are unable to buy or build homes throughout Jerusalem without protest.”