Israel Not To Change Policy Towards Construction: Peres

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday met with Israeli President Shimon Peres who said that Israel’s policy towards construction in Jerusalem should not be changed.
“For 40 years there was a certain pattern which is that we build in the suburbs which are basically Jewish, and we didn’t build in the suburbs which are basically Arabs. That was done by all governments. It was accepted by everybody including, in fact, the Palestinians. It never disturbed the negotiations. I think that we have to continue the same policy,” said Peres.
During their private meeting in Peres’ residence in Jerusalem, Ashton — on a first visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories since she took office — said the aim of her trip is to support the peace process.

“I’ve come with two purposes in mind: the first is to support the peace process and to ensure that the European Union plays its part in support of that process, and to have the opportunity to discuss the issues of concern with the leadership here and also to have the opportunity to visit some of the projects that we’re supporting.

And my second purpose is to recognise the bilateral relationship, especially economically,” Ashton told Peres.
Ashton’s visit came as tensions between Palestinians and Israel peaked with violent incidents erupting in and around Jerusalem.

Israel angered the Palestinians and touched off a spat with US President Barack Obama’s administration after announcing plans, during a visit by Vice President Joe Biden last week, to build 1,600 homes for Jews near East Jerusalem, in West Bank territory it annexed after a 1967 war.