Israel's Minister of Interior Eli Yishai approved the construction of 1,600 housing units in Jerusalem and will approve an additional 2,700 in the coming days. Aides close to Yishai said the aim is to alleviate the housing situation in the capital. The move in which the construction of a total of 4,300 housing units in Jerusalem will be approved is likely to draw fresh international condemnation. On Thursday the minister approved the construction of 1,600 new housing units in Ramat Shlomo, located in north-east Jerusalem. In the coming days he plans to approve construction of 700 housing units in the neighborhood of Pisgat Ze'ev located in east Jerusalem and 2,000 units in Givat Hamatos in southern Jerusalem. Thursday's announcement came days after the ministry's Housing and Planning Committee approved the construction of 700 housing units in Har Homa, drawing sharp condemnation from the United States and European Union.