Amidst the attacks on the Occupied Territories, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his vow to continue expanding settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. Speaking in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said he had sent the Obama administration a letter specifying his refusal to accept their call for a settlement freeze.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Our policy on Jerusalem is the same policy followed by all Israeli governments over the past forty-two years, and it has not changed. As far as we are concerned, building in Jerusalem is the same as building in Tel Aviv. These are things that we made clear to the US administration.”

Netanyahu’s vow to continue settlement building comes two days after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised him for offering what she called “useful and productive” proposals on resolving the dispute over Israeli settlements. Neither the Obama administration nor the Israeli government has released details of Netanyahu’s proposals.