Interior Min. Yishai: We'll continue to build up Jerusalem

         Interior Minister Eli Yishai Thursday said the government will continue to build up Jerusalem and that it is clear there will be no moratorium on construction, Army Radio reported Thursday. "I thank God I have been given the opportunity to be the minister who approves the construction of thousands of housing units in Jerusalem," Yishai said in an interview with ultra-Orthodox newspaper Yom Yom. Yishai also accused leftists in Israel of having a clear goal: for Jerusalem to have a small Jewish segment, without East Jerusalem and Arab neighborhoods, and for the ultra-Orthodox population in the capital to be curbed. Meanwhile, Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom on Thursday also said that construction in Jerusalem is "unconditional," adding that Israel is dealing only with the regulations and procedure. "How did we get to the point that building in Jerusalem has turned into a stumbling block? If we blink now, we will lose everything, and when that happens the government will collapse," he told Israel Radio. Shalom added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has a mandate from the Jewish people and we don't have the option of making another decision." Shalom also said, "We are facing a historic decision. The United States knows that when the time comes, Israel will be the only one to stand by it." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week, "Our policy on Jerusalem is the same policy followed by all Israeli governments for the 42 years, and it has not changed." "As far as we are concerned, building in Jerusalem is the same as building in Tel Aviv," said Netanyahu. Meanwhile in Israel, Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkowitz said Netanyahu should be praised for insisting on Israel's interests with the US administration. "We are not a leftist government, and construction in Jerusalem is part of the consensus – it is the capital of the people of Israel," Hershkowitz said. "We do not want to fight with our great friend, but our responsibility is towards the people of Israel. We are an independent state and not an American dependant. We must avoid a situation whereby we close down the Knesset and government, hand (US President Barack) Obama the keys and allow him to tell us what to do," he said. "If the Americans will realize that the Israeli government has red lines - they will respect that," he said. Other ministers echoed Hershkowitz's call. (11,46)