US Vice¹-President Joe Biden has condemned³ Israel's approval of 1,600 new homes for ultra-Orthodox Jews in East Jerusalem.

美国副总统乔·拜登指责以色列批准在东耶路撒冷地区为超正统犹太教徒建造1600座新房屋的计划。

Nearly 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since 1967

Mr Biden, in Israel as part of US attempts to kick-start the peace process, said it was "the kind of step that undermines（危害，破坏） the trust we need".

Palestinian leaders also condemned the controversial（有争议的） move.

Israel insisted it was a procedural step with no connection to Mr Biden's visit.

The international community considers East Jerusalem occupied territory. Building on occupied land is illegal under international law, but Israel regards East Jerusalem - which it annexed⁴（附加） in 1967 - as its territory.

In a strongly worded statement, Mr Biden said: "I condemn² the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in east Jerusalem.

"The substance and timing⁵ of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity⁶ talks, is precisely⁷ the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive⁸ discussions that I've had here in Israel."

He said the Israelis and Palestinians needed to build an atmosphere to support negotiations⁹, not complicate¹⁰（使恶化，使复杂化） them, adding: "This announcement underscores the need to get negotiations under way that can resolve all the outstanding issues of the conflict."

Mr Biden said the US recognised that Jerusalem was a deeply important issue for Israelis and Palestinians, and for Jews, Muslims and Christians¹¹.

"We believe that through good faith negotiations, the parties can mutually agree on an outcome that realises the aspirations¹²（愿望） of both parties for Jerusalem and safeguards its status for people around the world," he said.

Palestinian leaders have only recently agreed to resume indirect contacts with Israel, at Mr Biden's urging.

Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP news agency: "This is a dangerous decision and will hinder（阻碍，打扰） the negotiations.

"We consider the decision to build in East Jerusalem to be a judgment¹³ that the American efforts have failed before the negotiations have even begun."

A spokesman for the Israeli interior ministry¹⁴ said: "The Jerusalem District Planning Committee today approved a plan which has been in the works for over three years.

"This is a procedural stage in the framework of a long process that will yet continue for some time. The committee meeting was determined¹⁵ in advance and there is no connection to US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel."

There are still various planning hurdles¹⁶（障碍，跨栏） for the East Jerusalem project to clear, and work is not thought likely to start for at least two years.

Under US pressure, Israel has agreed a 10-month suspension of new building in the West Bank. But the moratorium¹⁷（暂停，中止） excludes East Jerusalem, where the Palestinians want their capital.