WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration has condemned yet another announcement of settlement activity on Monday, this time citing its frustration with Israel's apparent disregard of Washington's concern.
The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee on Monday agreed to approve 500 new housing units in Ramat Shlomo, a neighborhood in Jerusalem beyond the pre-1967 Green Line.
"It is unfortunate that after the unequivocal and unanimous position last week of the international community opposing construction in Jerusalem at this sensitive time, authorities chose to move forward," State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez told The Jerusalem Post over e-mail.
"We continue to engage at the highest levels with the Israeli government to make our position absolutely clear that we view settlement activity as illegitimate and unequivocally oppose unilateral steps that prejudge the future of Jerusalem," Vasquez said.
Washington has issued no less than three individual condemnations of settlement activity approved by Jerusalem in the last month.