JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Jerusalem municipal planning committee approved the construction of 153 housing units in a Jewish neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem.

The permissions Thursday for the Gilo neighborhood follow days after construction was approved for 566 housing units in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods of Ramot, Ramat Shlomo and Pisgat Zeev, and two days after Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for 2,500 housing units in the West Bank.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman told the French news agency AFP that the approvals Thursday were among those held up due to U.S. pressure under the Obama administration,

The White House has not condemned any of the announcements, but Sean Spicer, the White House spokesman, said Tuesday at the daily briefing for reporters that President Donald Trump would discuss the recent settlement expansion plans when he meets next month with Netanyahu. Israeli leaders perceive Trump as more supportive of settlement construction. </s> Announcement of construction in occupied Palestinian territories is second since Donald Trump became US president

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Israel has approved a massive new building programme of Jewish settlement homes in the occupied Palestinian territories, following hard on the heels of the swearing-in of the US president, Donald Trump.

The defiant move, in opposition to most recent international opinion, comes as Israeli politicians have rushed to exploit what they see as a pro-Israel and pro-settlement US administration.

The announcement of 2,500 new housing units in the West Bank is one of the largest in years and marks a comprehensive rejection of December’s UN security council resolution, which described settlement building as a “flagrant violation” of international law and an obstacle to peace.

The decision, approved by the rightwing Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his defence minister, Avigdor Lieberman, seems certain to further increase tensions with Palestinians and the wider Middle East, already high over the Trump administration’s proposal to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said the move would have “consequences”. “The decision will hinder any attempt to restore security and stability; it will reinforce extremism and terrorism and will place obstacles in the path of any effort to start a peace process that will lead to security and peace,” he added.

The plans were condemned by Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s executive committee. She said: “It is evident that Israel is exploiting the inauguration of the new American administration to escalate its violations and the prevention of any existence of a Palestinian state.”

Although the Israeli government said the majority of new homes would be built in “major settlement blocs”, which Israel wants to keep as part of any eventual peace settlement, a number will be built in controversial hardline settlements, including Beit El.

Beit El is a settlement near Ramallah, in which Trump’s pick for the new US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has been involved. It has also received funding from the family of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to Israeli media reports.

A day earlier, Netanyahu had told his security cabinet that he was also lifting all restrictions on Israeli construction in occupied East Jerusalem. That followed the approval on Sunday by the Jerusalem municipality of hundreds of new homes in East Jerusalem.

In a marked shift in policy, the US government – which has in the past usually been quick to condemn new settlement announcements – remained silent even as European countries denounced the plans.

At the time of writing there had been no US comment on Tuesday’s settlement construction announcement either.

About 400,000 settlers live in the West Bank and a further 200,000 in East Jerusalem, which Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war.

Justifying the move, Lieberman said he and Netanyahu had agreed on the approval “in response to housing needs”.

“We are building and we will continue to build,” Netanyahu wrote, in a brief Facebook post.

Settlement construction was a contentious area of disagreement during the Obama years, when the White House sided with the Palestinians and the international community in condemning it as an obstacle to peace.

According to the anti-occupation group Peace Now, the first six months of 2016 saw Israel begin construction on some 1,195 new settlement units in the West Bank — which at the time was said to be a 40% increase on the previous six-month period.

Trump has signalled a softer approach to the settlements, and some of his top aides have close ties to the settler movement.

Oded Revivi, a key leader of the West Bank settlement movement, which led a delegation to the Trump inauguration, said he hoped the announcement was “just the beginning of a wave of new building … with the blessing of the new Trump administration”.

Trump has not outlined a vision for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although he has said he would be keen to broker a peace deal. His election platform made no mention of a Palestinian state.

His pledge to move the US embassy from coastal Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is vehemently opposed by the Palestinians. But since taking office, the White House has been vague about its plans for the embassy.

Netanyahu has been under mounting political pressure both from the far right in his coalition, which has been pushing him to exploit the new attitude of the Trump administration, and also from an escalating police investigation into alleged corruption.

The pro-settler Jewish Home party, led by education minister, Naftali Bennett, wants Netanyahu to move ahead with an explosive bill that would annex Maaleh Adumim, a major settlement of nearly 40,000 people near Jerusalem.

A vote on the legislation, which threatens to unleash fresh violence and damage already faded hopes for Palestinian independence, was put on hold this week, apparently so Netanyahu could coordinate his policy towards the Palestinians with the new administration. He is scheduled to visit the White House in early February.

The recent announcements on settlement plans for East Jerusalem and the West Bank have been seen by some as Netanyahu’s way of keeping the far right on side while avoiding the annexation issue.

Despite his promises to build, Netanyahu has also called for restraint, saying he doesn’t want to surprise the Trump administration. He said he intends to deploy “responsible and informed diplomacy” with the new US leadership. </s> Israel has given green light to 153 additional settler homes in the occupied East Jerusalem after 2,500 housing units were approved in the West Bank. Another 11,000 buildings are expected to receive building permits, according to Jerusalem’s deputy mayor.

Israeli authorities are expanding plans for housing development on occupied Palestinian territory which is considered illegal by international law. The move comes after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, who has voiced strong support for Israel, and dismissed criticism of the controversial settlement policy, which the previous White House administration maintained.



The permits by a city planning committee had been put on hold due to pressure from Barack Obama’s administration, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman said, according to The Times of Israel.

Earlier Sunday, the committee authorized the construction of 556 settler homes in east Jerusalem followed by 2,500 homes in the West Bank approved on Tuesday. 



“I’m going to deliver permits for thousands of homes in Jerusalem in the coming months,” Turgeman said.



The plans were approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The houses are to allow the settlements “to maintain regular daily life,” the ministry said in a statement.



“We’re building – and will continue to build,” Netanyahu said Tuesday, commenting on the approval.



Palestinians have called the announcement “land theft and colonialism.” The outcry came following the recent anti-settlement resolution at the United Nations.



Israel’s actions were also condemned by the United Nations along with the European Union on Wednesday.

Most part of the 2,500 buildings approved on Tuesday are to be set up in the large settlement areas in the city of Ariel as well as in the settlement of Givat Ze’ev, located north of Jerusalem.



According to Israeli media, the family of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, sponsored this settlement.



Trump has promised strong support to Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding Israeli settlement policies unlike his predecessor Barack Obama. Trump may also move the US embassy to Jerusalem despite its contested legal status.



On Monday, Netanyahu reportedly said that he was planning to lift all restrictions on Israeli construction in East Jerusalem, Haaretz newspaper wrote, citing senior officials briefed on the situation. </s> Israeli officials have approved the construction of 3,000 new settlement units in the West Bank as part of a massive expansion policy in occupied Palestinian territory.

"[Israeli] Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have decided to authorize the construction of 3,000 new housing units," the defense ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, 2,000 of the units are ready to be put on the market, while the rest are in various stages of planning.

"We're in a new era where life in Judaea and Samaria (the West Bank) is returning to its natural course," said Lieberman, who himself has long lived in a West Bank settlement.

Since Trump took office with top aides sympathetic to the settlement enterprise, the government has announced a string of new projects that will add more than 6,000 homes for Jewish settlers.

On Jan. 22, Jerusalem's municipality approved the construction of 566 new settlement units in east Jerusalem. The plans, approved by Netanyahu and Lieberman, mark the largest recent announcement of settlement building by Israel.

"We are building and will continue to build," Netanyahu said in the statement.

On Jan. 24, Netanyahu approved the construction of 2,500 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank, according to a statement issued by his Office.

Two days later on Jan. 26, Israeli officials gave the final approval for 153 settler homes in east Jerusalem.

"I'm going to deliver permits for thousands of homes in Jerusalem in the coming months," Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir had said at the time.

Meanwhile, Trump has pledged strong support for Israel, and Netanyahu's government has moved quickly to take advantage. The prime minister has said he sees the Trump presidency as offering "significant opportunities" after facing "huge pressures" from Barack Obama.

The accelerated settlement expansion has deeply concerned those seeking to salvage a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The former Obama administration despaired of Israel's accelerating settlement expansion and, in a sharp break with longstanding policy, withheld its veto on a critical U.N. Security Council resolution in its final days.

The international community considers all Jewish settlements on occupied Palestinian land as illegal and regards their construction as the biggest obstacle to a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

But in a significant break with the Obama administration, Trump's White House has not condemned any of the four settlement expansions announced by Israel since he took office.

The Palestinians want the West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, areas captured by Israel in the 1967 war, as part of their hoped-for state. The Palestinians want these areas, along with the Gaza Strip, for the establishment of a future Palestinian state.

International law views the West Bank and east Jerusalem as "occupied territories" and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity on the land as illegal.

Roughly 500,000 Israelis now live in more than 100 Jewish-only settlements built since Israel occupied the Palestinian West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1967. </s> JERUSALEM: Israeli officials gave final approval Thursday to 153 east Jerusalem settler homes, the deputy mayor said, adding to a sharp increase in such projects since US President Donald Trump took office.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman told AFP the approvals by a city planning committee were among those held up due to pressure from former US president Barack Obama´s administration.

Following Trump´s inauguration, Turgeman spoke of plans for some 11,000 homes in process for annexed east Jerusalem.

"I´m going to deliver permits for thousands of homes in Jerusalem in the coming months," Turgeman said.

Thursday´s approvals were for the settlement neighbourhood of Gilo.

Israel has announced a major settlement expansion in the days following Trump´s January 20 inauguration.

On Sunday, the city planning committee approved building permits for 566 settler homes in east Jerusalem.

Two days later, the defence ministry announced plans for 2,500 settler homes in the occupied West Bank.

Trump has pledged strong support for Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu´s government has moved quickly to take advantage.

In a telling break with the Obama administration, Trump´s White House has not condemned Israel´s settlement expansion.

The announcements have deeply concerned those seeking to salvage a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Settlements are viewed by much of the world as illegal and major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.

Obama´s administration, like much of the world, warned that settlement expansion was gradually eating away at prospects for a two-state solution.

Israel approves 153 more east Jerusalem settler homes was posted in World of TheNews International - https://www.thenews.com.pk on January 26, 2017 and was last updated on January 26, 2017. This news story is related to Latest/181889-Israel-approves-153-more-east-Jerusalem-settler-homes/ - breaking news, latest news, pakistan ne. Permanent link to the news story "Israel approves 153 more east Jerusalem settler homes" is https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/181889-Israel-approves-153-more-east-Jerusalem-settler-homes. </s> Israeli officials gave final approval Thursday to 153 east Jerusalem settler homes, the deputy mayor said, adding to a sharp increase in such projects since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.



Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman told AFP that the approvals by a city planning committee were among those held up due to pressure from former U.S. president Barack Obama's administration.



Turgeman said developers "could start building from tomorrow." Following Trump's inauguration, Turgeman spoke of plans for some 11,000 homes in process for annexed east Jerusalem.



"I'm going to deliver permits for thousands of homes in Jerusalem in the coming months," Turgeman said.



Thursday's approvals were for the settlement neighbourhood of Gilo.



Israel has announced a major settlement expansion in the days following Trump's January 20 inauguration.



On Sunday, Jerusalem's municipality approved the construction of 566 new settlement units in East Jerusalem. The plans, approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, mark the largest recent announcement of settlement building by Israel. "We are building and will continue to build," Netanyahu said in the statement.



Two days later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the construction of 2,500 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank, according to a statement issued by his office on Tuesday.



Trump has pledged strong support for Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has moved quickly to take advantage. In a telling break with the Obama administration, Trump's White House has not condemned Israel's settlement expansion. The announcements have deeply concerned those seeking to salvage a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Obama's administration, like much of the world, warned that settlement expansion was gradually eating away at prospects for a two-state solution.



The Settlements are viewed by much of the world as illegal and a major stumbling block to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.



"This decision is a challenge and provocation and disregard for the Arab world and the international community and requires a real and serious position from the entire world," he said. Trump is widely expected to be more sympathetic to Israel's settlement policies than the fiercely critical Obama administration, and has also vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to contested Jerusalem.



Israel's nationalist government has welcomed the prospective change in policy, but it also risks igniting Palestinian and even regional unrest.



The Palestinians want the West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 war — as part of their hoped-for state. They, along with much of the international community, view the Israeli settlements as illegal. Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the latest settlement plans, saying they would hurt peace hopes and "promote extremism and terrorism."



Meanwhile, the international community continued to condemn the Israeli announcement over the new settler homes in the occupied Palestinian territory saying that it would "further seriously undermine" prospects for two-state solution. Mogherini said settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law.



The Russian Foreign Ministry described Israel's recent decision to build a host of new Jewish-only housing units in the occupied West Bank as "illegal"." In accordance with international law, this decision by Israel is illegal," the ministry said in a statement. </s> Israel has given green light to 153 additional settler homes in the occupied East Jerusalem after 2,500 housing units were approved in the West Bank. Another 11,000 buildings are expected to receive building permits, according to Jerusalem's deputy mayor.The permits by a city planning committee had been put on hold due to pressure from Barack Obama's administration, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman said, according to The Times of Israel.Earlier Sunday, the committee authorized the construction of 556 settler homes in east Jerusalem followed by 2,500 homes in the West Bank approved on Tuesday.The plans were approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The houses are to allow the settlements "to maintain regular daily life," the ministry said in a statement.Palestinians have called the announcement "land theft and colonialism." The outcry came following the recent anti-settlement resolution at the United Nations.Israel's actions were also condemned by the United Nations along with the European Union on Wednesday.Most part of the 2,500 buildings approved on Tuesday are to be set up in the large settlement areas in the city of Ariel as well as in the settlement of Givat Ze'ev, located north of Jerusalem.According to Israeli media, the family of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, sponsored this settlement.Trump has promised strong support to Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding Israeli settlement policies unlike his predecessor Barack Obama. Trump may also move the US embassy to Jerusalem despite its contested legal status. </s> The municipality of Jerusalem granted final approval Sunday for the construction of hundreds of new homes in east Jerusalem, while a hard-line Cabinet minister pushed the government to annex a major West Bank settlement as emboldened Israeli nationalists welcomed the presidency of Donald Trump . After eight years of testy ties with President Barack Obama , Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is looking forward to a new era of close relations with the U.S. under Trump.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Houston Chronicle. </s> Israeli officials gave final approval on Thursday to 153 east Jerusalem settler homes, the deputy mayor said, adding to a sharp increase in such projects since US President Donald Trump took office. Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman told AFP the approvals by a city planning committee were among those held up due to pressure from former US president Barack Obama’s administration.

Following Trump’s inauguration, Turgeman spoke of plans for some 11,000 homes in process for annexed east Jerusalem. “I’m going to deliver permits for thousands of homes in Jerusalem in the coming months,” Turgeman said. Thursday’s approvals were for the settlement neighbourhood of Gilo.

Israel has announced a major settlement expansion in the days following Trump’s January 20 inauguration. On Sunday, the city planning committee approved building permits for 566 settler homes in east Jerusalem. Two days later, the defence ministry announced plans for 2,500 settler homes in the occupied West Bank. Trump has pledged strong support for Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has moved quickly to take advantage.

In a telling break with the Obama administration, Trump’s White House has not condemned Israel’s settlement expansion. The announcements have deeply concerned those seeking to salvage a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Settlements are viewed by much of the world as illegal and major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.

Obama’s administration, like much of the world, warned that settlement expansion was gradually eating away at prospects for a two-state solution.
Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, Israel approves the construction of 566 new settlement homes in East Jerusalem.