Israel's plan to build 1,600 new houses in East Jerusalem has come under unusually swift and sharp criticism from the international community.
Its critics included U.N. Chief, the European Union's foreign-policy head, and the United States, despite being its strongest ally.
The provocation was evident from the fact that it was Israel's second settlement plan in as many days. Breaking a promised 10-month stay in settlement construction activities in the West Bank, Israel on Monday authorized the building of 112 new apartments in a Jewish settlement in the region.
Condemning Israel's settlement plan, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement reiterated that "settlements are illegal under international law." He reminded that "settlement activity is contrary to Israel's obligations under the road-map, and undermines any movement towards a viable peace process."
Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina termed it "a dangerous decision" that will hinder the resumption of indirect negotiations with Israel.
"May I join US Vice-President Joe Biden in condemning the decision to build 1,600 new houses," Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign-policy director, told the European Parliament Wednesday.
In the midst of a high-profile trip by Biden, Israel unveiled plans for new housing in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in East Jerusalem.
Tuesday, Israeli Interior Ministry's District Committee for Planning and Construction approved the construction of 1,600 new homes in Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, an occupied West Bank land. It was a surprise step that embarrassed and angered the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories since President Barack Obama took office.
Biden warned that the timing of the announcement could undermine the planned U.S.-mediated indirect talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
The White House issued a statement denouncing the Israeli move. It was unclear how deeply the latest step by Israel would affect ties between the two countries.
The sharp turn of events abruptly changed the optimistic tone of the trip in its second day, after the Vice-President proclaimed his love for Israel and affirmed U.S. solidarity with that strategically important country.
Biden had come to the Middle East to try to smooth relations with a longtime ally and promote new peace talks, for which U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell had already done the ground work.
Mitchell announced on Monday that Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to launch "indirect proximity talks" under the mediation of the United States. He also expressed hope that the indirect talks would soon lead to direct negotiations, and said the two sides have already begun "to discuss the structure and scope of these talks."
Biden is now due to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in the West Bank.
On Thursday, he travels to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah.
The latest round of U.S. diplomacy comes 14 months after the previous peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis came to an abrupt end.
The development was seen as an achievement for the Obama administration, which has been making serious efforts to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It also marked the first serious effort by the two sides in finding a solution to the Middle-East conflict since Benjamin Netanyahu took over as Israel's Prime Minister in March last year.
In the recent past, Netanyahu has repeatedly called for the resumption of peace talks with Palestinians and even hinted that his government was willing to allow the establishment of an independent but demilitarized Palestinian State.
Jewish construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem is a particularly sore point with the Palestinians because it challenges their claims to lands they want for a future State.
All settlements in the two regions are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.