Israel to continue settlement construction in Jerusalem

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Source: CCTV.com | 03-18-2008 14:57

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the country will continue to build homes in the disputed Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, rejecting international criticism of the project.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the country will continue to build homes in the disputed Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, rejecting international  criticism of the project. (CCTV.com)

He made the announcement during a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, in Jerusalem on Monday.

The Palestinian authority has expressed dissatisfaction saying Olmert's argument is that the settlements are part of Jerusalem.

Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister, said, "When we build in Jerusalem, we build in Jerusalem and everyone knows there is no chance that Israel will give up Har Homa. It's an inseparable part of Jerusalem. The Palestinians know it, the international community knows it. So it's not an issue whether there will be one more house less or more."

Riad Malki, Palestinian Authority FM, said, "No-one in the world recognized this and so they could really say whatever they want. At the end of the day, we will go back to international diplomacy, you know international agreements and everything that has been really built in Jerusalem or around Jerusalem is illegal."

Editor:Zhang Pengfei