'Deep crisis' in Israel-US ties

Washington, 15 March-(ANA)-Israel's ambassador to the US has said that relations between the two countries face their worst crisis for 35 years, the Israeli media reported.

Last week Israeli officials announced the building of 1,600 new homes in occupied East Jerusalem while US Vice-President Joe Biden was visiting.

Since the announcement, Palestinian leaders have said that indirect talks with Israel are now "doubtful".

Previously the Israeli government had played down the strain in relations.

But the Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, told a conference call with Israeli consuls general in the US that "the crisis was very serious and we are facing a very difficult period in relations", the Israeli media reported on Monday.

POINTS OF TENSION IN JERUSALEM

  1 Gilo: 850 homes approved for publication and planning objections in Nov 2009

  2 Pisgat Zeev: 600 homes approved for publication and planning objections in Jan 2010

  3 Sheikh Jarrah: Several Palestinian families evicted in past 18 months to make way for Jewish settlers after court ruled in ownership dispute

  4 Ramat Shlomo: 1,600 homes approved for publication and planning objections in Mar 2010

  5 Silwan: Demolition orders on 88 Palestinian homes built without difficult-to-get permits - Israel planning controversial renewal project

  6. West Bank barrier: Making Palestinian movement between West Bank and Jerusalem harder - Israel says it's for security . (ANA)

FA/ANA/15 March 2010------