The Obama administration has mildly criticized Israel’s latest plans to build more than 1,000 settlement homes in occupied East Jerusalem. During his visit to Indonesia, President Obama said Israel’s settlement expansion is “never helpful.” Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called on the United States to demand an Israeli withdrawal to its recognized 1967 borders.

Saeb Erekat: “And this is why we call upon the United States and the European Union, if they want to preserve the two-state solution and the peace process, to respond to such Israeli unilateralism by declaring the recognition of the state of Palestine on the ’67 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.”