Monday, March 15, 2010

Israel-US diplomatic tension rises

A row has erupted between the US and Israel after an announcement of new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem disrupted the US Vice-President Joe Biden's visit to Israel last week.

David Axelrod, the chief political adviser to President Barack Obama, described the timing of the announcement as an "insult".

"This was an affront, it was an insult, but most importantly it undermined this very fragile effort to bring peace to that region," he told NBC television on Sunday.

Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has ordered an investigation into how government officials announced plans on Tuesday to build 1,600 new settler homes in East Jerusalem during a visit by Biden.

Netanyahu's office said he ordered the inquiry late on Saturday after he met senior cabinet ministers.

The announcement embarrassed Biden, who was visiting Israel in a bid to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Netanyahu has since apologised for what he called the bad timing of the announcement, but has given no sign he will cancel the construction orders…

Ulasan: Doakan agar Allah hancurkan pakatan Israel dengan negara Barat.

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