Israel: Jewish construction in disputed east Jerusalem construction will proceed on schedule
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell, center, will shuttle between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to narrow vast differences on terms of Palestinian statehood.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Two days after talks with the Palestinians resumed, Israel says construction for Jews in disputed east Jerusalem will proceed on schedule.
Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser acknowledges it will take a couple of years before construction begins on a contentious building project that caused a serious rift with Washington.
But Hauser said Monday that projects will be built in other east Jerusalem neighborhoods where construction bids already have been issued.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as capital of a future state and see continued Israeli construction there as undermining their claim.
Indirect talks with the Palestinians officially were launched over the weekend after a 17-month breakdown.