Netanyahu refuses to rethink housing plan

JERUSALEM, March 21 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday refused to budge from plans to build housing units in East Jerusalem despite intense U.S. pressure to do so.

"We will clarify that building in Jerusalem is like building in Tel Aviv," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The prime minister also said the proximity talks -- indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians -- would not lead to an "enduring peace process," the newspaper said. Rather, he said, resolution would result only from direct talks in which the two sides "sit together and sort the issues out."

Netanyahu said he would convey his positions to U.S. President Barack Obama in a visit to Washington Sunday. During his U.S. visit, Netanyahu also is to attend a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

The Israeli announcement about the construction of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem came while U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was in the region on a diplomatic mission to pave the way to a new round of peace talks.

The Obama administration has harshly criticized the decision, saying it could jeopardize efforts to bring peace to the Mideast.

Before the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he hoped negotiations with Palestinians would restart this week.

"I hope we will begin to advance on a track of intensive negotiations, and not just proximity talks," he said.