Israeli media reports say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved tenders for the construction of nearly 240 new housing units in areas of Jerusalem across the Green Line.According to Israeli media Haaretz, while neighbourhoods are technically set in the northern part of the city, they are considered East Jerusalem due to their location east of the Green Line. This was the first time a tender has been issued for East Jerusalem since U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel last March, when it was announced that 1,600 housing units would be built in the area despite the settlement freeze.The Palestinian Authority has insisted that it will not return to peace talks unless Israel ceases construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Earlier this week, Netanyahu offered to renew its temporary freeze in the West Bank if the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, but the Palestinian leadership was prompt to reject the propos