Capital braces for Beit Yehonatan evacuationHe stressed that there had only been a temporary freeze in the wake of tensions with the US over the approval of an additional 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo during US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel last month.“One cannot stop the growth of a vibrant city which is so full of life, particularly not Jerusalem,” he said. “If you do that, then the Jews will leave and the Arabs will build illegally. It takes time to recover from an attack by an ally such as the US, but I believe that the tensions are now behind us."“There are more buildings being built right now,” he said. “In a place like Jerusalem, we need to build for both Jews and Arabs. If we give the Palestinians any hold at all on the city, it will be a Trojan Horse for the Jews in Jerusalem.”He said he intended to preserve the demographic balance in the capital. Barkat is visiting the US with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and was expected to meet State Department officials later Wednesday.
Barkat: US demand 'slap in the face'
Capital’s mayor rejects calls for east J'lem construction freeze.
Capital braces for Beit Yehonatan evacuationHe stressed that there had only been a temporary freeze in the wake of tensions with the US over the approval of an additional 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo during US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel last month.“One cannot stop the growth of a vibrant city which is so full of life, particularly not Jerusalem,” he said. “If you do that, then the Jews will leave and the Arabs will build illegally. It takes time to recover from an attack by an ally such as the US, but I believe that the tensions are now behind us."“There are more buildings being built right now,” he said. “In a place like Jerusalem, we need to build for both Jews and Arabs. If we give the Palestinians any hold at all on the city, it will be a Trojan Horse for the Jews in Jerusalem.”He said he intended to preserve the demographic balance in the capital. Barkat is visiting the US with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and was expected to meet State Department officials later Wednesday.