Israeli leader regrets US row

ISRAELI PRIME minister Binyamin Netanyahu yesterday called for calm as criticism continued, both from Washington and within Israel…

ISRAELI PRIME minister Binyamin Netanyahu yesterday called for calm as criticism continued, both from Washington and within Israel, over last week’s announcement, during a visit of US vice-president Joe Biden, of more construction in east Jerusalem.

Israel’s Channel 2 television reported that Washington was demanding Israel cancel the plans announced last week to build another 1,600 homes for ultra-orthodox Jews in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood.

The administration of president Barack Obama is also reportedly pressing Israel to make additional gestures to the Palestinians and to agree to discuss substantive issues when bilateral peace talks resume.

“We opened the newspapers this morning and read all kinds of commentary and assumptions regarding the crisis with the US.

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“I recommend not to get carried away and to calm down,” Mr Netanyahu told his cabinet. “There was a regrettable incident that was done in all innocence and was harmful, and which certainly should not have occurred.”

He set up a special committee of senior officials to ensure that similar mishaps do not occur in the future. The Jerusalem district planning committee cancelled two meetings scheduled for this week that were to have discussed construction plans.

Mr Netanyahu also ordered ministers not to speak in public on the issue.

Mr Obama’s chief political adviser, David Axelrod, implied the Israeli actions were designed to harm US efforts to renew peace contacts with the Palestinians.

"It was an insult [that] seemed calculated to undermine peace moves and that was distressing to everyone who is promoting the idea of peace and security in the region," Mr Axelrod told ABC's This Weekprogramme .

Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni, leader of the centrist Kadima was also critical. “It’s not God’s decree for the world to be against us,” she said. “We can change the reality, but for this we need a prime minister who has a clear policy and strategic path, who doesn’t place national security in the hands of Eli Yishai [the interior minister from the right-wing religious Shas party]”.

The media was scathing in its criticism. Israel's largest-selling daily Yediot Aharonotwrote: "When was the last time we heard such harsh words, and such a cold and alienated tone of voice from Washington?" Another newspaper, Ma'ariv, warned that Mr Netanyahu was close to being persona non gratain Washington.