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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Jerusalem settlement 'extended' | Jerusalem settlement 'extended' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Construction has begun on approximately 60 new homes in a Jewish settlement in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, the Israeli campaign group Peace Now says. | Construction has begun on approximately 60 new homes in a Jewish settlement in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, the Israeli campaign group Peace Now says. |
| The work, in East Talpiot settlement, is aimed at creating a belt around East Jerusalem that would sever it from the rest of the West Bank, the group says. | The work, in East Talpiot settlement, is aimed at creating a belt around East Jerusalem that would sever it from the rest of the West Bank, the group says. |
| Settlements on occupied land are illegal under international law. | Settlements on occupied land are illegal under international law. |
| Israel disputes this and also argues that East Jerusalem is not subject to its pledge to freeze settlement work. | |
| Israel's claim is based on its annexation of East Jerusalem, unrecognised by the international community, which it captured along with the West Bank and other Arab territory in the 1967 war. | Israel's claim is based on its annexation of East Jerusalem, unrecognised by the international community, which it captured along with the West Bank and other Arab territory in the 1967 war. |
| 'Not one centimetre' | 'Not one centimetre' |
| Peace Now's Hagit Ofran said the work in East Talpiot in south-east Jerusalem aims to build "housing units for Orthodox religious Jewish families right next to the Palestinian neighbourhood of Arab al-Sawahra". | Peace Now's Hagit Ofran said the work in East Talpiot in south-east Jerusalem aims to build "housing units for Orthodox religious Jewish families right next to the Palestinian neighbourhood of Arab al-Sawahra". |
| The housing complex is made up of three blocks of flats containing about 60 homes, Peace Now says. | The housing complex is made up of three blocks of flats containing about 60 homes, Peace Now says. |
| "We are against this project, which is harming the hopes for peace," Ms Ofran said in remarks to AFP news agency. | "We are against this project, which is harming the hopes for peace," Ms Ofran said in remarks to AFP news agency. |
| Jerusalem municipal officials declined to comment about the building work, which Peace Now said began two months ago. | Jerusalem municipal officials declined to comment about the building work, which Peace Now said began two months ago. |
| Successive Israeli governments have asserted that East Jerusalem is an "eternal, indivisible" part of Israel. | Successive Israeli governments have asserted that East Jerusalem is an "eternal, indivisible" part of Israel. |
| In a speech in Ramallah, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not give in to Israeli or international pressure to resume negotiations if settlement construction continues. | In a speech in Ramallah, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not give in to Israeli or international pressure to resume negotiations if settlement construction continues. |
| "All I know is that there is the state of Israel, in the borders of 1967, not one centimetre more, not one centimetre less. Anything else, I don't accept," Mr Abbas said. | "All I know is that there is the state of Israel, in the borders of 1967, not one centimetre more, not one centimetre less. Anything else, I don't accept," Mr Abbas said. |
| About 200,000 Israeli Jews live in homes in East Jerusalem, with a further 250,000 settlers living in other parts of the West Bank, on land Palestinian negotiators have sought as part of a future Palestinian state. | About 200,000 Israeli Jews live in homes in East Jerusalem, with a further 250,000 settlers living in other parts of the West Bank, on land Palestinian negotiators have sought as part of a future Palestinian state. |