Official: israel to approve housing construction in east jerusalem

Israel's interior minister plans to approve the construction of 2,700 housing units in Jerusalem, including 700 that will be built in a neighborhood annexed during the 1967 Six Day War, an official told CNN Thursday.

The move by the ministry is seen as provocative ahead of efforts to block a planned Palestinian bid to achieve statehood before the United Nations in September.

Interior Minister Eli Yishai will approve two housing projects next week, which will allow for the construction of 2,000 housing units in Givat Hamatos and 700 units in the annexed East Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Zeev, Yishai's adviser, Roi Lachmanovich, told CNN.

Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 and does not view the neighborhoods there as settlements, though the international community does not recognize the annexation and regards the Eastern part of the city to be occupied territory. Palestinians consider East Jerusalem to one day be the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Source: CNN.com