Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    JERUSALEM, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Housing Ministry published a bid on Sunday for the construction of more than 800 apartment units in east Jerusalem.

    Israeli Housing Minister Zeev Boim instructed to build 763 housing units in Pisgat Zeev and 121 housing units at Har Homa, an area Palestinians refer to as Jabal Abu Ghneim.

    Both sites are located on lands captured by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War, and were incorporated into the municipal borders of Jerusalem in an act not recognized internationally.

    A spokesman of Boim said the new tenders were a part of steps the government was taking to "strengthen Jerusalem."

    Last month Boim instructed his office to publish a tender to build 286 new homes in the settlement of Beitar Illit, near Jerusalem.

    According to statistics of Israeli government, Israel has approved the construction of about 2,000 homes in disputed territory since renewing peace talks with the Palestinians at the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference last November.

    Israel's plan to build new apartments in disputed territory has drawn harsh criticism from the Palestinian side and the international community, including Israel's ally, the United States.

    The U.S. side said such construction is unconducive to peace efforts, and the Palestinian side has accused Israel of sabotaging the peace talks.