It would appear that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu jumped the gun last week after issuing an apology to visiting US Vice President Joe Biden and the subsequent announcement that “the political crisis between America and Israel is behind us”.

It begins with the growing number of nations issuing condemnatory statements against the planned construction of an additional 1,600 housing units in Ramat Shlomo (Reches Shuafat) in Yerushalayim. There is also the telephone call to Mr. Netanyahu, during which US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the prime minister an earful on Friday night, for 43 minutes, telling him the apology was “simply not enough” – that it will not suffice. Ms. Clinton stated the ill-timed announcement simply impacts relations between Israel and the United States, questioning how this was permitted to occur.

Speaking with CNN, Clinton called the incident “insulting” and most unfortunate. She did add however there is no reason to believe the prime minister had advanced knowledge of the announcement. She also emphasized that despite the tensions, there is no danger regarding the relationship existing between the US and Israel which she added is “strong” and based on “mutual interests”.

Netanyahu explained that he personally apologized to the vice president regarding the embarrassing situation, adding a mechanism to prevent any future occurrences has been set in place.

Mr. Netanyahu stressed that his government does not differ from previous administration, all adopting the policy of continuing to build in Jerusalem, since 1967. He added that Ramat Shlomo was not started by his administration, and his continued construction is a continuation of the previous Olmert government. He added “the building approval does not result in anything new” and the current administration understands that Jewish areas of the capital will remain under Israeli control, and this will not change.

Tragically, the prime minister has already signaled his willingness to relinquish Israeli sovereignty over what he views as non-Jewish areas of the capital, which is also evident from this statement regarding “Jewish areas of the capital” as if the Arab claim to portions of Yerushalayim enjoys any historical legitimacy.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)