US demands Israel to halt construction in Gilo

Following discovery of Israeli plans to construct a new residential area in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, Special Envoy George Mitchell met with Attorney Isaac Molcho to voice US disaproval of the plans and to demand that Prime Minister Netanyahu prevent construction approval from being given.

Shimon Shiffer in Yedioth Ahronoth reports:

Officials in the Prime Minister's Bureau were stunned to hear of the demand... "The neighborhood of Gilo construction is an integral part of Jerusalem, just as the neighborhoods Ramat Eshkol, Rehavia, French Hill and Pisgat Zeev are part of the united city, and there is no difference between construction in those neighborhoods in Jerusalem and construction in Tel Aviv and Haifa. Issuing construction permits in those cities does not require the prime minister's approval."

American officials said that if Netanyahu failed to meet the Americans' expectations and to stop construction in Jerusalem, in practical terms this would demonstrate that he was prepared to concede the chance for renewing negotiations with the Palestinians.