The decision came shortly before US secretary of state John Kerry was to arrive in neighboring Jordan on a mission aimed at restoring calm in the Holy Land after weeks of unrest.
Much of the recent violence has stemmed from tensions surrounding a sensitive holy site revered by Muslims and Jews.
The collapse of US-brokered peace talks, Israel’s bloody war last summer in the Gaza Strip and continued Israeli settlement construction in east Jerusalem have added to it.
Brachie Sprung, a spokeswoman for the municipality, said city officials approved 200 homes in the Ramot area. Sprung said the approval was just a preliminary stage of the planning process - meaning construction would be years away.
She also said city officials approved an additional 174 homes for construction in an Arab neighborhood.
Any Israeli construction for Jewish areas of east Jerusalem risks setting off a diplomatic firestorm — especially in the current fragile environment.
Much of the recent violence has stemmed from tensions surrounding a sensitive holy site revered by Muslims and Jews.
The collapse of US-brokered peace talks, Israel’s bloody war last summer in the Gaza Strip and continued Israeli settlement construction in east Jerusalem have added to it.
Brachie Sprung, a spokeswoman for the municipality, said city officials approved 200 homes in the Ramot area. Sprung said the approval was just a preliminary stage of the planning process - meaning construction would be years away.
She also said city officials approved an additional 174 homes for construction in an Arab neighborhood.
Any Israeli construction for Jewish areas of east Jerusalem risks setting off a diplomatic firestorm — especially in the current fragile environment.