(AP) Josef Federman - Top Israeli officials on Thursday rallied behind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his dispute with the U.S. over Israeli construction in east Jerusalem. A string of cabinet ministers declared that Israel would keep on building Jewish homes in east Jerusalem and accused Washington of unfairly putting pressure on the Israeli government. Silvan Shalom, Netanyahu's deputy and sometimes rival in the Likud Party, told Israel Radio on Thursday that he "completely supports" the prime minister, saying that the Jewish people's historical bond to Jerusalem is unbreakable. "The subject of building in Jerusalem is unconditional, and if we blink we will lose everything," Shalom said. While he said the relationship with Washington is critical for Israel, he warned that "one-sided" pressure could backfire. In the past, perceived pressure from abroad has rallied Israelis around their leaders.
2010-03-26 09:19:48Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive