TEL AVIV, May 19, 2011 (WAFA) - The Israeli Building and Planning Committee unveiled an upcoming project to build 1600 new housing units in East Jerusalem, said Israel’s Channel 10.
The new housing units are to be built in the settlements of Pisgat Ze’ev, Abu Ghonaim Mountain and Har Homa in east Jerusalem.
This plan was revealed on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US to meet with President Barack Obama.
The US opposes construction in East Jerusalem, but this is not the first time such announcements are made on the eve of Netanyahu’s visit to meet US leaders. US Vice President Joe Biden had demanded that Israel cease settlement construction and evacuate West Bank settlements during his latest visit more than a year ago, but Netanyahu responded to the demand by announcing additional construction in East Jerusalem.
M.N./F.J.
