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Mar. 15, 2021
Last Tuesday, March 9, marked the 11th anniversary of a visit to Israel by America’s then-vice president, Joe Biden. He was welcomed with an announcement by the Interior Ministry of a plan to build 1,600 apartments in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo.
The high-level visitor responded with a statement of his own, saying: “I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units.” In both its content and its timing – just before the launch of indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians – the announcement “undermines the trust we need right now,” he added.