American Administration Condemns Israeli Plans to Build New Housing Units in Capital

The State Department on Wednesday wasted no time in condemning Israeli plans to build 1,500 new housing units in an eastern neighborhood of Jerusalem while supporting this week’s release by Israel of terrorist prisoners convicted of murdering Israelis. Spokesman Jan Psaki told reporters that, “We do not consider continued settlement activity or east Jerusalem construction to be steps that create a positive environment for the negotiations," while calling the prisoner release "a difficult but necessary step to help ensure the success of talks.” United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon echoed the American position. Polling indicates the Israeli public strongly disagrees with the US assessment. Pundits opine that the announcement of new housing was timed to assuage Israelis who argue the Jewish state is receiving nothing in return for the unpopular gesture which families of those killed by the prisoners released are characterizing as a “betrayal by the state.”