Mayor Nir Barkat said that construction in East Jerusalem will continue, despite the "slap in the face" Israel received from the United States over the matter, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.

While meeting with reporters in Washington, Barkat also denied reports that a de facto building freeze is in effect, after two Jerusalem officials said on Monday that Israel has ceased new construction in the city's disputed eastern sector - despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declarations to the contrary.

Barkat also told the reporters it is impossible to prevent a vibrant city such as Jerusalem from growing.
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Construction in East Jerusalem has been a major sticking point between Israel and the U.S. since Israel infuriated Washington last month by announcing a major new East Jerusalem housing development during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

Israel annexed East Jerusalem, the site of sacred shrines holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians, after capturing it in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Some 180,000 Israelis now live in Jewish neighborhoods built there in the past four decades, and about 2,000 more live in the heart of traditionally Arab neighborhoods.

The Palestinians, the U.S. and the rest of the international community do not recognize the annexation.

Netanyahu, however, has said repeatedly that East Jerusalem will remain under Israeli sovereignty in any peace deal, a position the Palestinians reject.
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