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Last update - 11:54 25/11/2009
U.S. 'dismayed' at Israel plan to build 900 homes beyond Green Line
By Nir Hasson and Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Israel settlements 
Israel disregards specific U.S. objection, approves plan to expand Jerusalem's Gilo neighborhood.

The White House responded angrily Tuesday to Israel's plan to build 900 new housing units beyond the Green Line in Jerusalem, despite specific objections from the U.S., saying that "we are dismayed."

In a statement, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs voiced the U.S.'s disappointment with "the Jerusalem Planning Committee's decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem."

The Jerusalem municipal planning committee approved the construction plan Tuesday despite an expose in Israel's Yedioth Aharonot newspaper earlier in the day revealing that the U.S. has specifically objected to the construction outlined in the plan.
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"At a time when we are working to relaunch negotiations," the White House spokesman went on to say, "these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed. Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally pre-empt, or appear to pre-empt, negotiations."

"The U.S. also objects to other Israeli practices in Jerusalem related to housing, including the continuing pattern of evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes," the statement continued.

"Our position is clear: the status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties," he added.

State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly also voiced disapproval, saying "we understand the Israeli point of view about Jerusalem but we think all sides right now should refrain from these actions. We're calling on both parties to refrain from action and from rhetoric that would impede this process. It's a challenging time and we need to focus on what's important."

The plan - named "Gilo's western slopes" - will account for a significant expansion of the neighborhood. The planned 900 housing unites will be built in the form of 4-5 bedroom apartments, in an effort to lure relatively well-off residents.

The plan was initiated by the Israel Land Administration, and has received an initial green light, but on Tuesday the authorization was finalized.

The additional housing units are only part of the planned expansion of Gilo. In fact, the majority of apartments slated to be built in Jerusalem in the coming years will be located in Gilo. Other building plans in various stages of approval include some 4,000 new housing units in Gilo and adjacent areas.

According to sources in the planning committee, extensive building plans stem from the scrapping of the Safdie plan, which would have seen the city expand westward. The Safdie plan, named after architect Moshe Safdie, included over 20,000 housing units on open areas covering 26,600 dunams (some 6,600 acres) west of the city on natural and planted forests near Ramot. The plan had come under attack by environmental groups, and was later discarded.

According to the sources, this created a need for new land for construction, which can be found in the southern parts of the city and beyond the Green Line.

The chairman of the Gilo community administration, Moshe Ben Shushan, voiced amazement at the American disapproval, saying "this is a trend of interference in Israel's policies. I have never thought of Gilo as a settlement."

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said Tuesday that there was no point in negotiating while Israel expands Jewish neighborhoods in the part of Jerusalem the Palestinians want for their capital.

He said the Israeli move shows that it is meaningless to resume negotiations.

Over recent days, American officials have shown a tremendous amount of interest in the construction plans, and have even approached left-wing activists for information.

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      1.   Arab housing 17:13  |  Dave Duncan 17/11/09
      2.   Keep slapping President Obama, I encourage it! 17:25  |  BBSNews 17/11/09
      3.   What`s the Obama administration going to do now? 17:28  |  Cynic 17/11/09
      4.   Dave, please don`t be statist, or racist 17:29  |  Moshe 17/11/09
      5.   Obama: Definition of racism 17:37  |  Moshe 17/11/09
      6.   when will the US do something besides "disapprove"? 17:38  |  arik 17/11/09
      7.   The entirety of the Land of Israel belongs exclusively to the ... 17:39  |  B. Gold 17/11/09
      8.   OUR Land: We Build 17:42  |  Yishai Kohen 17/11/09
      9.   Obama is the first black US President 17:57  |  Scott Hunter 17/11/09
      10.   To Moshe - really? 17:58  |  Greg 17/11/09
      11.   To Moshe 18:16  |  Yaron 17/11/09
      12.   America is not a colonial power 18:28  |  Brod 17/11/09
      13.   Yaron/Barcelona "So either you officially consider it Israel, 18:30  |  17 17/11/09
      14.   There is no antisemitism or racism... 18:31  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      15.   # 10 Greg - please help 18:34  |  17 17/11/09
      16.   12 The US should do more than object .... 18:38  |  Dutch 17/11/09
      17.   #1 Dave Duncan, U R so right. 18:40  |  Kader 17/11/09
      18.   #3Cynic.Palestians will always loose 18:44  |  Kenneth 17/11/09
      19.   Bad, bad idea on Israel`s part! great hypocrisy 18:54  |  Samuel 17/11/09
      20.   To B Gold # 7 The entirity of the... 19:00  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      21.   SO these 900 Units is NOT for Natural Growth after all? 19:01  |  Ganny 17/11/09
      22.   B. Gold - Israel is a Jewish state, however 19:02  |  CJ 17/11/09
      23.   Israel plans more building 19:04  |  WHG 17/11/09
      24.   Homes make peace 19:05  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 17/11/09
      25.   Brod - It`s the UNSC`s business. The US is a voting member 19:06  |  CJ 17/11/09
      26.   17 - Ever read UNSC Res 252 19:08  |  CJ 17/11/09
      27.   To Chaim # 24 Once you accept... 19:11  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      28.   Baruch Gold 19:20  |  Cynic 17/11/09
      29.   #5 Moshe 19:27  |  BDS 17/11/09
      30.   # 26 CJ - 19:28  |  17 17/11/09
      31.   expansion of settlements 19:34  |  JR 17/11/09
      32.   Settlement Building 19:35  |  Dwight Love 17/11/09
      33.   Jerusalem is not a settlement 19:43  |  Boruch 17/11/09
      34.   JR 19:49  |  Jasper 17/11/09
      35.   Amir Mohamed`s welcome home 19:49  |  Greg 17/11/09
      36.   To Greg#10 19:52  |  Boruch 17/11/09
      37.   the quran and Jerusalem 19:54  |  ben 17/11/09
      38.   Greg in Canada, did you read or didn´t you... 19:56  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      39.   Boruch # 36 - pls read my posting # 20 19:58  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      40.   I have a friend in Gilo 20:05  |  S 17/11/09
      41.   Palestinians... 20:07  |  Yosemite 17/11/09
      42.   to Amir Mohamed goog words 20:08  |  CM 17/11/09
      43.   To CM # 42 I didn´t write Ishmael and... 20:14  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      44.   Build, build build. 20:16  |  N5IDF 17/11/09
      45.   I did read your posts Amir 20:42  |  Greg 17/11/09
      46.   Yes, Greg, really 20:49  |  SDHD 17/11/09
      47.   Samuel, there is no hypocrisy 20:54  |  SDHD 17/11/09
      48.   USA Dismayed? How Can You Tell? 21:03  |  Vladek 17/11/09
      49.   Approved, Not Built 21:04  |  Ron 17/11/09
      50.   Well Greg, I think you got it the wrong way 21:07  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      51.   U.S. Whining will not Change Anything 21:28  |  Bill 17/11/09
      52.   U.S. "dismayed", LOL, and they want to be a world super power ?? 21:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/11/09
      53.   Really? That`s strange, because... 21:33  |  Heather Czerniak 17/11/09
      54.   Moshe, that`s not what Obama says 21:35  |  Danny 17/11/09
      55.   JUST OUT OF INTEREST...... 21:38  |  Ian 17/11/09
      56.   Israel acting unilaterally 21:38  |  aybioday 17/11/09
      57.   we should protest against the occupation of irak ,afgan, by US 21:41  |  dovdevan 17/11/09
      58.   to Amir ok, the closer the better 21:41  |  CM 17/11/09
      59.   The actions of a government that want peace! 21:53  |  Apa 17/11/09
      60.   27 21:59  |  zionist forever 17/11/09
      61.   Obama requires a 101 on realpolitik 22:01  |  Roo 17/11/09
      62.   same old same old,except? 22:04  |  billy jack 17/11/09
      63.   Don`t like this... 22:04  |  Maoz 17/11/09
      64.   geography - tiny distance of gilo to the knesset 22:05  |  tzvi 17/11/09
      65.   I`m dismayed that we even commented 22:10  |  David P. 17/11/09
      66.   Translated 22:10  |  Tyler 17/11/09
      67.   Mr. Gold`s statements 22:11  |  E. More 17/11/09
      68.   U.S `dismayed` at Israel to build 900 homes beyond Green Line" 22:12  |  Akram Zekaria 17/11/09
      69.   American Indians in new york 22:12  |  joe 17/11/09
      70.   #28 Cynic No I still live in Hebron Israel 22:13  |  Baruch Gold 17/11/09
      71.   The US better shut up! if it can`t put up! 22:15  |  Dan 17/11/09
      72.   Gilo Housing 22:16  |  paul 17/11/09
      73.   Danny, that`s not what basic reality says 22:18  |  SDHD 17/11/09
      74.   Best for the U.S. to let Isreal go 22:22  |  Steve 17/11/09
      75.   Amir Mohamed # 27 22:24  |  Philippe 17/11/09
      76.   To 17 22:28  |  Zach 17/11/09
      77.   Baruch Gold and What He Must Face 22:31  |  Yaakov Sullivan 17/11/09
      78.   Ridiculous 22:33  |  Concerned American 17/11/09
      79.   What are they all smoking? 22:33  |  a wandering Jew 17/11/09
      80.   #12 Brod - Israel has signed a number of treaties that binds it 22:39  |  binny 17/11/09
      81.   #19 ,Samuel , there no sattlers in Jerusalem 22:39  |  TOMY 17/11/09
      82.   Israel 22:43  |  Liz 17/11/09
      83.   Housing 22:43  |  Marc 17/11/09
      84.   #22 CJ , what is green line ? Did Arabs 22:43  |  TOMY 17/11/09
      85.   Nobama`s administration needs to get a life. Create some jobs! 22:45  |  4:20 17/11/09
      86.   #33 Boruch - So Pals can vote in Israeli elections? 22:49  |  Binny 17/11/09
      87.   Dave # 4 - Arab houses? 22:55  |  Nahman Umani 17/11/09
      88.   flash forward. 22:57  |  Hirz 17/11/09
      89.   To Zionst Forever # 57 23:02  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      90.   tzvi - Gilo is not in Israel either... It`s in Palestine 23:03  |  CJ 17/11/09
      91.   #4 Moshe, on the responsibilities of an occupying power 23:06  |  Johnboy 17/11/09
      92.   To CM # 55 23:07  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      93.   Solution to problem: 50% ot those new homes 23:07  |  Esther 17/11/09
      94.   US dismayed 23:12  |  shmuel 17/11/09
      95.   to # 4 Moshe 23:13  |  Ken 17/11/09
      96.   Esther 23:14  |  Chaphari 17/11/09
      97.   To Greg # 45 I think you are wrong... 23:15  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      98.   Its not the arabs land 23:15  |  j 17/11/09
      99.   #13 Actually, that is not true, 17 23:17  |  Johnboy 17/11/09
      100.   Esther # 83 is a very decent person 23:18  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      101.   # 89 j - Right so, it is the land of..... 23:20  |  Amir Mohamed 17/11/09
      102.   Israel has made it clear ,never a division of Jerusalem. 23:33  |  Sarah 17/11/09
      103.   #26 Actually, CJ, here`s a very much better one 23:35  |  Johnboy 17/11/09
      104.   #27 Amir my cousin 23:52  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 17/11/09
      105.   I am Zionist forever. Still, we should not build there! 23:55  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 17/11/09
      106.   PA never thought to fight construction in Gilo until Obama 23:57  |  jeff 17/11/09
      107.   Moshe 00:14  |  Dave Duncan 18/11/09
      108.   Time to hold back on funding 00:23  |  American 18/11/09
      109.   nonsense 00:33  |  Markos Souza 18/11/09
      110.   Obama requires a 101 on realpolitik 00:33  |  Roo 18/11/09
      111.   Amazing that no-one "noticed" that Gilo was a settlement 00:35  |  sh 18/11/09
      112.   Settlements 01:09  |  Michael Larsen 18/11/09
      113.   #30 I can show you Israel`s OFFICIAL consideration, 17 01:18  |  Johnboy 18/11/09
      114.   Obama`s Learning Disability 01:19  |  Mark Lincoln 18/11/09
      115.   900 Homes for Jewish settlers? 01:21  |  Nezam el Jenini 18/11/09
      116.   #86 Bravo Esther! 01:23  |  censored 18/11/09
      117.   Abbas should step down 01:26  |  Chuckles 18/11/09
      118.   to zionist forever 01:46  |  Veronica 18/11/09
      119.   What`s with all the US hate 02:15  |  Zack 18/11/09
      120.   Israel shoots itself in the foot again. 02:34  |  Michael 18/11/09
      121.   To #75 02:37  |  Maurice 18/11/09
      122.   Obama`s position is correct 02:39  |  bronxite10 18/11/09
      123.   Isreali support in America is the big loser. 02:46  |  Steve43207 18/11/09
      124.   US Open Hand & Israeli Fist 03:01  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/11/09
      125.   Obama--deal with Arab Terror for a change 03:05  |  marat 18/11/09
      126.   China and Gilo 03:11  |  Sam 18/11/09
      127.   johnboy - jude not for ye shall be judged 03:19  |  Ron 18/11/09
      128.   To #5 Moshe 03:20  |  Elmer 18/11/09
      129.   cut off aid 03:20  |  Will 18/11/09
      130.   Cut Israel off from U.S. money 03:28  |  janice 18/11/09
      131.   build it and he will come... 03:31  |  Mark 18/11/09
      132.   Israeli blindness 03:33  |  Richard Phillips 18/11/09
      133.   Moshe and the land 03:37  |  Janice 18/11/09
      134.   I was there. There are NO green lines. 03:56  |  benajmin 18/11/09
      135.   #77 Tomy. Israeli wishes don`t make it legal 03:57  |  Ron 18/11/09
      136.   Brod # 12 03:58  |  Janice 18/11/09
      137.   So Moshe is referencing the US Constitution? 03:59  |  Dekel 18/11/09
      138.   900 wonderful homes under the blue and white skies of Israel 04:00  |  Dudka 18/11/09
      139.   Ashamed of current US policy, speaking as an American Jew 04:15  |  Eric L 18/11/09
      140.   right to Rahm`s office 04:17  |  Steve 18/11/09
      141.   Construction 04:17  |  Chris 18/11/09
      142.   So much ignorance expressed in the Pro-land theft posts 04:23  |  CJ 18/11/09
      143.   Brod 04:40  |  Hugh 18/11/09
      144.   #77 TOMY asks..... 04:42  |  Johnboy 18/11/09
      145.   #7 B.Gold. You`ve been told this over and over 04:44  |  Ron 18/11/09
      146.   Ian 04:46  |  Hugh 18/11/09
      147.   #2 BBS - You`re letter will join 04:48  |  *BEN JABO 18/11/09
      148.   #9 Scott Hunter - Obama is taking his place 04:54  |  *BEN JABO 18/11/09
      149.   Dismayed? 05:10  |  Mark Lincoln 18/11/09
      150.   bother!! 05:31  |  maoriboy 18/11/09
      151.   NEW PERSPECTIVE 05:35  |  Jim Litsey 18/11/09
      152.   I agree Yishai 06:04  |  Mike 18/11/09
      153.   Jerusalem is not occupied 06:17  |  Joe Frazier 18/11/09
      154.   Delicate ladies from the XIX Century "dismay" (i.e. faint). 06:48  |  Fortuna Benmayor 18/11/09
      155.   BEIT JALLA RESIDENTS DON"T LIKE ISRAELI CONCRETE 06:56  |  Steve of Mevaserret 18/11/09
      156.   B. Gold...Let me state their case. 07:01  |  John The American 18/11/09
      157.   To Ron- withdraw and then? 07:06  |  Utahn 18/11/09
      158.   Quick to quote 07:15  |  harvey 18/11/09
      159.   #112 A quick lesson in logic (and duplicity), Joe 07:38  |  Johnboy 18/11/09
      160.   to shmuel #87 07:43  |  zeev 18/11/09
      161.   #108 Here`s where you can have a good laugh, Mark 07:45  |  Johnboy 18/11/09
      162.   to B. Gold #7 - 2nd try 07:45  |  zeev 18/11/09
      163.   #92 Gosh! Thanks for the sermon, Ron 07:48  |  Johnboy 18/11/09
      164.   #65 There appears to be a logic-definiciency, Akram 07:52  |  Johnboy 18/11/09
      165.   #47 Err, that looks like duplicity to me, SDHD 08:01  |  Johnboy 18/11/09
      166.   Who is a better friend to USA? 08:04  |  Jasper 18/11/09
      167.   #46 A most presumptous claim, SDHD 08:12  |  Johnboy 18/11/09
      168.   to Joe Frazier #112 08:26  |  zeev 18/11/09
      169.   Baruch Gold. Hebron 08:30  |  Cynic 18/11/09
      170.   GILO The Arabs failed to ethnic cleanse it in 1948 08:40  |  PETER SM 18/11/09
      171.   Good solution Esther #86! 08:48  |  S 18/11/09
      172.   binny 10:25  |  John Spear 18/11/09
      173.   Jasper How do you know why they were passing out candy? 10:32  |  CJ 18/11/09
      174.   #137 Say that again, PETER SM? 12:25  |  Johnboy 18/11/09
      175.   Hugh #112 15:05  |  Brod 18/11/09
      176.   Peace? 16:28  |  Claudius Mar`in 18/11/09
      177.   #140 CJ - You had said you were a German Jew 17:20  |  *BEN JABO 18/11/09
      178.   #104 Ron , Israel did not start the war 1967 17:30  |  TOMY 18/11/09
      179.   #104 Johnboy , and did the Arabs except 17:33  |  TOMY 18/11/09
      180.   #140 CJ - You only believe what you want 2 18:49  |  Malach HaMavet 18/11/09
      181.   #135 Zeev - Stop being so selective 18:54  |  *BEN JABO 18/11/09
      182.   U. S. dismayed. Oh ! 19:53  |  The Teacher/Instruct 18/11/09
      183.   Zeev - Just in case you overlooked it 23:46  |  *BEN JABO 18/11/09
      184.   to *BEN JABO #146 08:05  |  zeev 19/11/09
      185.   shmuel When was Jerusalem legally annexed to Israel? 13:45  |  CJ 19/11/09
      186.   Ron - So if Australia ddresses it`s issues, which it is, Israel 13:49  |  CJ 19/11/09
      187.   Because you over look it *BEN JABO 18:42  |  CJ 19/11/09
      188.   #178 Tomy The land is not Israel`s 03:16  |  Ron 20/11/09
      189.   ERD TRY -#184 Zeev - Not one word on your part 21:56  |  *BEN JABO 21/11/09
      190.   to PETER SM #170 - 4th try 00:55  |  zeev 22/11/09
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