In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Palestinians are voicing outrage over the latest Israeli plans to build more than one thousand new homes in Arab East Jerusalem. It’s the second time Israel has announced a major construction project in occupied territory since the U.S.-brokered Annapolis summit late last year. Palestinian adviser Saeb Erekat said Israel is undermining any remote chances at a peace deal.

Palestinian adviser Saeb Erekat: “We know it’s a Palestinian problem. We know that the coup must end, and we call upon all in Gaza to stop, and to go for a mutual cessation of hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. We need total calm. This serves the Palestinian interest. And we believe that the military escalation, incursions, roadblocks, settlement activities is just adding to the complexities, enlarging the cycle of violence and counter-violence and will not lead to the road of peace or security for any.”

On a visit to the U.S. Tuesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Israel has “not done a thing materially on the ground” to help the Palestinian Authority.