The freeze does not include 3,000 Jewish homes already under construction in the West Bank and does not apply to disputed East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians seek as the capital of their future state.

VOA: standard.2010.01.03

While Israel has imposed a partial freeze on construction in the West Bank, government spokesman Mark Regev says that does not apply to Jerusalem, which Israel says is the eternal capital of the Jewish people.

VOA: standard.2009.12.28