Netanyahu refuses to budge over Jerusalem construction

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has again rejected US calls to halt construction in occupied East Jerusalem. He spoke as US Middle East envoy George Mitchell arrived in the region for separate talks with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. It is his first visit since a row broke out between Israel and the US over home construction plans in East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the UN said it could not educate thousands of Palestinian pupils because of Israel's blockade of Gaza. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, John Ging, said the blockade made it impossible to build new schools to accommodate the growing numbers of students. Israel imposed a tightened siege on Gaza after the militant Hamas movement seized control over the Gaza Strip in 2007.