Israel okays 120 colony homes in East Jerusalem

Occupied Jerusalem: The municipal council in Occupied Jerusalem on Monday approved the construction of 120 new homes in the Jewish colony neighbourhood of Ramot in occupied east Jerusalem, a councillor told AFP.

"It's not good news," Pepe Alulu of the opposition Meretz party said. "They approved 120 housing units in Ramot... there were two permits authorised, one for 56 housing units and another for 64."

The vote came on the eve of a visit by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who has said that east Jerusalem colony building harms the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.