JERUSALEM — Israel on Tuesday rejected global criticism of moves to build 1,300 new homes in occupied east Jerusalem, insisting it would never limit construction in its “capital,” the premier’s office said.

“Israel sees no connection between the peace process and the planning and building policies in Jerusalem that have not changed for the last 40 years,” said a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Jerusalem is not a settlement — Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Israel,” it said, adding that no Israeli government had ever curbed building in the Holy City since taking over and annexing the eastern sector during the 1967 Six Day War.

“Building in Jerusalem has never interfered with the peace process,” it said, while admitting that differences with Washington over Jerusalem had been ongoing over the last 43 years.

Plans to increase building in east Jerusalem were made public as Netanyahu was on a five-day trip to the United States to discuss a revival of peace talks.

He is expected to hold talks about the moribund peace process with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New York on Thursday.