Nir Barkat, Binyamin Netanyahu
Nir Barkat, Binyamin NetanyahuFlash 90

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said he was not concerned over what some are calling a “crisis” in Israel-US relations, after the White House slammed Israeli building plans in Jerusalem. “Construction in Jerusalem does not 'harm' or 'poison' anything. Construction in Jerusalem is important and it will continue,” Barkat said.

On Wednesday, the US State Department used unusually harsh language when criticizing Israel’s approval of planned construction of 2,610 homes in Jerusalem. “This development will only draw condemnation from the international community, distance Israel from even its closest allies, poison the atmosphere not only with the Palestinians but also with the very Arab governments with which Prime Minister (Binyamin) Netanyahu said he wanted to build relations,” Psaki was quoted as having told a briefing. In addition, it would “call into question Israel’s ultimate commitment to a peaceful negotiated settlement,” she added.

Barkat said that Psaki was entitled to her opinion, but that Israel respectfully disagreed. “Racism and discrimination on the basis of race or religion is illegal in Israel, as it is in the US,” he said. “I will not allow that kind of discrimination here by freezing construction for Jewish building in Jerusalem.”

Jerusalem's local committee on Wednesday approved building permits for 2,610 housing units in the Givat HaMatos neighborhood in Jerusalem. The approval was passed by a vote of six to one, with former deputy mayor of Jerusalem Pepe Alalu voting against the proposal. Givat Hamatos is a southern suburb of the capital located in an area restored to the city during the 1967 Six Day-War. 

As with all of Judea and Samaria, any area of Jerusalem seized illegally by Jordan during the 1948 War of Independence and occupied by that country until 1967 is claimed by the Palestinian Authority for its hoped-for state. In particular, the PA has claimed the parts of Jerusalem that were occupied by Jordan to be used for a capital of that state. The international community and leftist organizations support the claim.