Azerbaijan , Baku, Sept. 28 / Trend A. Isgandarov/
Egypt 's Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr on Wednesday condemned Israel's plan to construct 1,100 homes in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, dpa reported.
"This illegal measure represents a new and glaring Israeli defiance to the international community, which endeavours to restore credibility to the peace process," Amr, now on a visit to the US, said in a statement released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
"Egypt is really worried over the steady rise in the pace of settlements construction, especially in the past two months when the building of more than 6,000 homes has been approved," he added.
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. But their relations have recently suffered their worst crisis.
Israel's government has given the final go-ahead for the construction of 1,100 new housing units in east Jerusalem.
The move has heightened tensions, which are already high following a Palestinian move last week to seek UN membership.