March 9 (Bloomberg) -- Vice President Joe Biden condemned Israel’s announcement that it plans to construct new housing in east Jerusalem, saying it threatens to undermine efforts to restart the peace process.
“I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem,” Biden said in a statement hours after he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The “substance and timing” of Israel’s announcement “is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Roger Runningen in Washington at rrunningen@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-09/biden-condemns-israel-s-east-jerusalem-housing-plan.html