Israeli PM reaffirms "technical" reason for East Jerusalem mishap

JERUSALEM, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday told visiting European Union (EU) foreign affairs chief that timing of last week's approval of building project in East Jerusalem is a "bureaucratic mishap," reported local daily Ha'aretz.

During his meeting with EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Netanyahu said the Jerusalem planning committee did not consider it to be a controversial issue.

Israeli Interior Ministry on March 9 gave green light to a 1, 600 housing units program in East Jerusalem, an area long at the forefront of Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

The approval, which went public a day after Israel and the Palestinians agreed to hold indirect talks, threatened to nip the talks in the bud.

To push forward the endangered peace process, Ashton earlier Wednesday urged serious talks between the Israelis and Palestinians at a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

"We attach great importance to the resolution of the Arab- Israeli conflict," she said.

Lieberman, at the same conference, told media that the international community's demand regarding the construction project is "unreasonable," despite repeated request from the United States that Israel reverse the decision.