TEL AVIV, January 6, 2010 (WAFA)-Haaretz quoted the Israel radio as saying The Israeli Municipality of  Jerusalem planning and building committee approved on Wednesday a plan to build a new Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem of Shuafat.

The plan includes three new five-story buildings, which will be erected on a 5,000-meter plot, and will be funded by American-Jewish millionaire Irving Moskovich, rightist activist Arie King told Army Radio.

Netanyahu's government and Ehud Barak's behavior in East Jerusalem resembles that of gangs and theft in broad daylight,' Hadash chairman Mohammed Barakeh said in response to the decision.

'These decisions are not conditions to begin negotiations, but rather tools of destruction which crush every glimmer of hope for peace,' he added.

Earlier the committee approved the construction of four residential buildings on the Wadi al-Jouz in East Jerusalem, which are expected to enter construction before the end of the month.

On Sunday, Israeli  left-wing party Meretz appealed against the request of HaMa'ayan, a firm supported by the Elad settlement organization, for the construction in East Jerusalem, resulting in a decision to hold another vote of the city council.

This time, Israeli Mayor of Jerusalem  Nir Barkat will be required to take a clear stance on his view on new Jewish construction in East Jerusalem.

The White House recently made clear in a statement that it opposes new Israeli construction in East Jerusalem, which is predominantly Arab and tapped by the Palestinians to be the capital of a future state.

'Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally preempt, or appear to preempt, negotiations. Rather, both parties should return to negotiations without preconditions as soon as possible,' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said last week.