JERUSALEM — Israel has published plans for some 1,000 new housing units in a hotly contested area of Jerusalem, advancing the approval process at a delicate time when the United States is pressing Israel to renew a freeze in settlement construction and get stalled peace negotiations with the Palestinians back on track.
The plans were published for public review in the advertising sections of local newspapers on Friday, shortly before the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, left for a trip to the United States. The advertisement of the plans, a necessary step ahead of final approval, was picked up and given prominent exposure by the Haaretz news site and other Israeli news media Monday.
Netanyahu, who traveled to the United States for the annual convention of the Jewish Federations of North America, met Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday and was expected to meet Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton later this week.
"We were deeply disappointed by the announcement of advance planning for new housing units in sensitive areas of East Jerusalem," said the State Department spokesman, Philip Crowley. "It is counterproductive to our efforts to resume direct negotiations between the parties."
It was not immediately clear whether Netanyahu knew in advance about Friday's advertisements, which were published in the name of the chairwoman of the Interior Ministry's district planning committee.
In New Orleans on Monday, hecklers interrupted Netanyahu's speech to a prominent American Jewish group, The Associated Press reported.
The five Jewish-American and Israeli protesters stood up and held banners denouncing the settlements. The hecklers, members of the Young Leadership Institute of Jewish Voice for Peace, interrupted Netanyahu's speech to the Jewish Federations.
Sheriff's deputies escorted them out to a chorus of shouts and boos, and they were released without charges. One audience member took a protest banner left behind and ripped it with his teeth.
Netanyahu accused the protesters of joining those who believe "Israel is guilty until proven guilty."
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