US envoy postpones Israel visit
Published:Tuesday | March 16, 2010 | 1:42 PM
US envoy George Mitchell has postponed a visit to Israel amid a continuing row over the country’s decision to build more Jewish homes in Arab East Jerusalem.
Mr. Mitchell had been due in Israel to try to set up the resumption of indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
The US was angered by the building announcement which was made last week as US Vice-President Joe Biden was visiting to try to kick-start stalled peace talks.
The renewal of talks had been agreed before Mr. Biden\'s visit, but Israel\'s announcement that it planned to build one thousand 600 new houses in East Jerusalem left it in tatters.
Meanwhile, tension remains high in Jerusalem, with a number of clashes earlier today.