Building in Jerusalem: Statement from PM Netanyahu's bureau

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
11 Mar 2010

The PM expressed his displeasure at the timing of the announcement of another stage in the planning process of a Jerusalem building project.

(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday (Wednesday), 10 March 2010, summoned Interior Minister Eli Yishai and expressed his displeasure at the timing of the announcement of another stage in the planning process of a Jerusalem building project. In light of the ongoing disagreement between Israel and the US on building in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Netanyahu said there was no need to advance the planning process this week and instructed Interior Minister Yishai to adopt procedures to prevent such an incident from recurring. Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to US Vice President Joe Biden and expressed his regret over the unfortunate timing. The Prime Minister informed the Vice President that this specific project had moved through various planning stages over several years. The final approval process will in all likelihood take more than a year and the beginning of actual construction would likely take several years.