White House Slams Israel’s Jerusalem Construction Right After Netanyahu’s Visit


Since the recent war with Palestine over Gaza ground to a halt, Israel has been in the news for its disagreements with the United Nations. The Inquisitr reported on the events in which Israel may have a hand or been directly affected. This includes the High Commissioner of the United Nations – the same one who said Gaza should have their own Iron Dome – verbally bashing Israel, and another United Nations representative stating that Israel is the reason why Palestinian men beat their wives.

Now, there are reports of the White House lashing out against Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed plans for Israel to build in the Jewish state’s eternal capital of Jerusalem.

According to CBS, the proposed Israeli plan, called “Gilo’s Western Slopes,” will add an additional 900 more housing units in the form of four or five bedroom apartments in a Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem. This advancement plan has attracted harsh criticism from internationals which see this expansion as an infringement on previous Israeli-Palestine agreements and an impediment to peace negotiations.

Obama adviser Robert Gibbs gave a statement on behalf of the Administration on their disappointment in the expansion.

“We are dismayed at the Jerusalem Planning Committee’s decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem. At a time when we are working to relaunch negotiations, these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed. Neither party should engage in efforts or take action that could unilaterally pre-empt, or appear to pre-empt, negotiations.”

In a follow-up by The Blaze, the dramatically sharp criticism from the White House and State Department came just hours after President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met. Obama did make his concerns known about the construction project with Netanyahu privately, though both leaders did not mention anything of the matter to reporters.

Spokesman for President Barack Obama, Josh Earnest, made it clear that the “Gilo’s Western Slopes” development will only draw condemnation from the international community and ultimately question Israel’s intentions for a peaceful, negotiated settlement with Palestinians. It should also be mentioned that The Blaze reports a difference in the size of the development, in which it will be 2,500 units instead of just 900. It also reports that the expansion will complete a band of Jewish areas that separate Jerusalem from nearby Bethlehem.

Now that you’ve read the news on the White House’s critical remarks against Israel’s expansion project, what do you think? Please let everyone know in the comments below.

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