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WASHINGTON (AFP) –
Israel's announcement of plans to build 1,600 settler homes in east Jerusalem
was not only an "insult" to the United States but "destructive" of the Middle East peace process,
a top White House official said Sunday.

"This was an affront, it was an insult but most importantly it
undermined this very fragile effort to bring peace to that region," said
David Axelrod, one
of President Barack Obama's
closest advisers.

"We have just started proximity talks, that is shuttle diplomacy, between the Palestinians
and the Israelis, and for this announcement to come at that time was
very destructive," he said on NBC television's Meet the Press show.

Israel's announcement of plans to build the 1,600 housing units in
mostly Arab east Jerusalem came March 10 during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden
that had aimed to encourage the first indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks
since Israel's
2008-2009 offensiv... >>>