U.S. Says Jewish Settler Homes 'Incompatible' with Peace, EU Seeks Clarification

The United States Monday blasted Israel for pledging to build 1,000 more settler homes in Arab east Jerusalem, saying any such move would be "incompatible" with peace efforts.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was "deeply concerned" by the reports and American embassy officials were having high-level talks with Israeli leaders to seek more information.

"We continue to make our position absolutely clear that we view settlement activity as illegitimate and unequivocally oppose unilateral steps that prejudge the future of Jerusalem," Psaki told reporters.

"Israel’s leaders have said they would support a pathway to a two-state solution, but moving forward with this type of action would be incompatible with the pursuit of peace," she added.

Washington repeatedly condemns moves to build Jewish settlements either in the West Bank or east Jerusalem. The city is claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians as their future capital in any peace treaty.

But the U.S. fails to back its words with any threatened consequences against Israel, and remains the country's staunchest ally.

"Ties between us are unshakable," Psaki reiterated.

"There are times when we disagree with actions of the Israeli government, including... the issue of settlements, where we have deep concerns about some of the steps the government is taking," she said.

"We expressed those, but it does not mean that we don’t have a strong and formidable relationship that continues."

Israel seized east Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community.

Earlier on Monday, The EU said it was seeking Israeli clarification of reports it planned to build another 1,000 homes in annexed east Jerusalem, voicing new concern about the peace process.

If the reports are confirmed, "it will call once again into serious question Israel's commitment to a negotiated solution with the Palestinians," a spokeswoman for EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton said.

The European Union could only "condemn such an ill-judged and ill-timed decision" if the plans went ahead, spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said.

"We stress that the future development of relations between the EU and Israel will depend on (its) engagement towards a lasting peace based on a two-state solution."

Earlier this month, the EU condemned as "highly detrimental" similar Israeli plans for more than 2,600 settler homes, calling for them to be reversed as a matter of urgency.

Reports Monday citing an unnamed official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the Israeli government had approved plans for another 1,000 new Jewish settler homes.

The reports followed fresh outbreaks of violence in mainly Arab east Jerusalem, where Israeli police have clashed with Palestinian protesters for several days.

Jibril Rajoub, a senior member of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement, warned the move could spark an "explosion."

Israel's settlement building in the occupied West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem, which is illegal under international law, has caused the breakdown of several rounds of peace talks supported by the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.