CAIRO, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) Council has decided to hold an extraordinary meeting on June 15 to discuss the Israeli settlement activities in the disputed territory, an AL spokesman said on Thursday.

    Abdel Aleem al-Abiyad, spokesman for AL chief Amr Moussa, made the announcement in a brief press release on Thursday, saying the meeting will be held at the level of permanent delegates.

    On Sunday, Israeli Housing Ministry published a bid for the construction of more than 800 apartment units in east Jerusalem, the latest decision to build more houses in the disputed territory since the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks at the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference last November.

    The plan has drawn harsh criticism from the Palestinian side and the international community, including Israel's ally the United States.

    The United States said such construction is unconducive to peace efforts, and the Palestinian side has accused Israel of sabotaging the peace talks.

    On Wednesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that peace negotiations with Israel can't go on as Israel "swallows Jerusalem and expand settlements in the West Bank."