Netanyahu: Settlement Row 'Overblown'
Haaretz reports:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday dismissed renewed furor over Israel's West Bank settlements, calling the international reaction to Israel's latest building plan "overblown".
Anger at plans announced Tuesday for over 1,000 new homes in the Har Homa settlement beyond the Green Line in East Jerusalem was misplaced, Netanyahu said in a television interview with the Fox Business Network, playing down a new diplomatic spat with the United States.
"I think it's overblown...you are talking about a handful of apartments that really don't affect the [peace] map at all contrary to impressions that might be perceived from certain news reports," Netanyahu said. "So it's a minor issue that might be turned to a major issue. I think this is wrong."
Tension over settlements was diverting attention from more important topics, Netanyahu said, claiming that despite continued building in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as their future capital, an agreement could be reached if both sides wanted it.
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