Israel greenlights plans for 1,000 Jerusalem settler homes

Published October 27, 2014
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. — Photo by AP
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. — Photo by AP

JERUSALEM: The Israeli government has given the green light for the planning of more than 1,000 new Jewish settler homes in annexed Arab east Jerusalem, an official told AFP on Monday.

“The government has decided to advance the planning of more than 1,000 units in Jerusalem — roughly 400 in Har Homa and about 600 in Ramat Shlomo," the official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in English, referring to two existing east Jerusalem settlements.

He did not elaborate and declined to comment on the likely political and diplomatic impact of such a move at a time when Palestinians and the international community are already incensed at latest settler moves in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan, where there have been almost nightly clashes for months.

“There is never a good time to do such things, now more than ever as Jerusalem is burning,” Lior Amichai of settlement watchdog Peace Now told AFP.

He said it was unclear from the statement whether the government was close to issuing construction tenders or wanted to fast-track plans in their early stages.

Ties between Israel and its close ally, the United States have become increasingly frayed over Israeli officials' public criticism of US foreign policy and the Obama administration's alarm at Netanyahu's relentless settlement-building.

The Israeli official also said that plans would be “advanced for infrastructure projects in the West Bank that will include roads for the Palestinians".

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.