Israel defends construction in east Jerusalem
Israel on Tuesday hotly defended its new construction plans for disputed east Jerusalem against criticism from President Barack Obama, Palestinians and the European Union â€'' insisting it never agreed to halt the building and sharpening a crisis that threatens to derail peace talks.
Israel said Monday that it will build nearly 700 new apartments in east Jerusalem, drawing tough criticism from both the Palestinians and the United States, which denounced the plan as an obstacle to peacemaking.