OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP) – An Israeli government committee on Thursday approved the construction of more than 1,500 settler homes in East Jerusalem, as Israel’s premier prepared to leave for talks in Washington, an NGO told AFP.

A spokeswoman for the Ir Amim non-governmental organisation, which calls for Palestinians and Israelis to share Jerusalem, confirmed the interior ministry planning committee gave final approval for two projects.

The decision authorised construction of 620 homes in the settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev, and another 900 in a second settlement neighbourhood, Har Homa.

The committee hearing took place just hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to fly to Washington, where he is to meet US President Barack Obama in the White House on Friday and make a keynote address to both houses of Congress next week.

Israeli lobby group Peace Now deplored the timing and content of the interior ministry’s decision. read more