Undeterred by international condemnation over its plans to build new homes in the West Bank, Israel is now considering building 1,600 housing units in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem, Israel media reported Tuesday, dpa reported.
The plan to build in Rmat Shlomo, in an area north of the city captured by Israel in the 1967 war, was frozen in March 2010, after it caused an unprecedented diplomatic row between Israel and the United States, since it was announced as US Vice President Joe Biden was visiting the Jewish state.
The latest construction plan comes as Israel finds itself in the midst of a diplomatic storm over plans to build 3,000 homes in the West Bank, including in the controversial E-1 corridor between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim.
The move was announced in response to the decision by the United Nations to upgrade the Palestinians' status at the world body to that of non-member state.
Five European nations, including Britain and France, responded by summoning Israeli ambassadors.