US calls Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem counterproductive

The United States urged Israel to recognize continued construction of settlements "counterproductive" to peace with neighboring Palestine after Israel announced a plan to construct an additional 300 settlement homes in East Jerusalem. "Israelis must recognize that continued construction in East Jerusalem is counterproductive to the cause of peace and that an independent Palestine must be viable, with real borders that have to be drawn," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed concerns to Israeli officials over the controversial construction. He has called for jump-starting Mideast peace talks and has traveled to the region for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials. "We're at a pivotal time and that we need to focus on each side making tough choices in order to move a process or the possibility of negotiations forward. And that's what our focus is on," Psaki said. The announcement came less than a week after Kerry urged Israel to avoid "provocative" actions during a visit to the region. The Palestinians say they will not return to negotiations until Israel stops building settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas they claim for a future state. Israel, which captured both areas in the 1967 Mideast war, says talks should resume without any conditions.