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Paris Mayor Betrand Delanoe (R) with his Jerusalem counterpart Uri Lupolianski during the unveiling Sunday June 1 of a fountain on Paris Square. The 4 metres high fountain is a gift from the French capital on the occasion of Israel's 60th anniversary.
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JERUSALEM (AFP-EJP)---Paris’s Socialist Mayor Bertrand Delanoe expressed his concern about Israel's announcement of the construction of more houses in east Jerusalem, but stressed that he refuses “to give lessons.”
The housing ministry said on Sunday, after the weekly cabinet session, that Israel will build 884 more houses in east Jerusalem.
Delanoe, who is on a three-day visit to Israel to mark the country’s 60th anniversary, said at a press conference that peace chances between Palestinians and Israelis must be preserved. "Things should not be made even more difficult," he added.
"All identity parts of Jerusalem must be preserved," Delanoe, who discussed the issue with his Jerusalem counterpart Uri Lupolianski, said.
While Palestinians slammed Israel’s decision, Lupolianski defended the move, telling Israeli radio it was necessary to address the "urgent need for housing for the Jewish population."
"I spoke to him in a friendly way about it, respectfully. I did not teach him the lesson, but I expressed my concern,” Paris's Mayor said.
Delanoe, who is challenging Ségolène Royal in next November’s election of a new French Socialist Party leader, met Sunday with Israeli president Shimon Peres and unveled on Paris Square in Jerusalem a 4 metres high fountain given as a gift by the French capital on the occasion of Israel’s 60th anniversary.
