Jerusalem's status not debatable says PM

JERUSALEM, July 20 (UPI) -- Jerusalem's sovereignty is not debatable, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said in response to U.S. demands for a halt to building in east Jerusalem.

Netanyahu's comments came after the U.S. State Department informed Israel's new ambassador to Washington, Michael Oren, over the weekend that Israel must halt all construction of Jewish housing in east Jerusalem, placing it in the same status as West Bank settlements, local media reports said Monday.

The apartment building was the former Shepherd's Hotel, located in the predominantly Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah and was purchased over 25 years ago by American millionaire Irving Moskowitz, Yedioth Aharonoth said Monday.

At Sunday's cabinet meeting , Netanyahu declared no one has the right to challenge Israel's sovereignty of a united Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, a statement released by the prime minister's office said.

Netanyahu said Arabs are not banned from buying apartments in western Jerusalem and Jews are not banned from buying or building apartments in the eastern part of the city.

There would be an international outcry if someone prevented Jews from living in certain neighborhoods in Rome, New York, Paris or London, he said.

A statement released Sunday by the local government of Jerusalem said the municipality issues construction permits without regard to race, creed, gender, religion or nationality. The acquisition of the land was legal and received all the necessary permits, it said, emphasizing the High Court of Justice ruling that Jews, Muslims and Christians can purchase land in all parts of the city of Jerusalem.