Netanyahu: Israel ‘rejects’ pressure not to build in Jerusalem

Israeli PM defiant as global outcry grows over attempts to evict Palestinian residents in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel “firmly rejects” pressure not to build in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said following days of unrest and growing international condemnation of planned evictions of Palestinians from homes in the city claimed by illegal Jewish settlers. Netanyahu’s comments came on Sunday as Israel’s justice ministry said it was delaying a key Monday hearing on the case of Palestinian residents of occupied East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. “In all the circumstances and in light of the attorney general’s request, the regular hearing for tomorrow, May 10, 2021 [is] cancelled,” it said in a statement, adding it would schedule a new hearing within 30 days.