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Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky (File) Last update - 12:46 12/02/2008 Minister: No freeze on Jewish construction in E. J'lem By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and AP Tags: East Jerusalem, construction  Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim denied Tuesday reports that the government is barring new housing construction for Jews in East Jerusalem, saying Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's order to freeze all construction that does not have his personal approval applies only to the West Bank. On Monday, Jerusalem city manager Yair Ma'ayan told the Knesset Economics Committee that the government was holding up construction of hundreds of apartments in Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem due to the negotiations with the Palestinians. "There is no delay, limitation, or suspension of the construction of Jewish neigbhorhoods in East Jerusalem," Boim told Israel Radio. Advertisement Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky also weighed in on the issue Tuesday, saying he "won't allow Jerusalem to be turned into an illegal outpost. Following the Annapolis conference last fall, several media reports about ongoing construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem angered the Palestinians and Americans. In response, Olmert ordered all building in the settlements frozen, including those settlements that are part of the greater Jerusalem area. But with regard to East Jerusalem, which was formally annexed to Israel in 1967, he merely ordered that he be kept informed of any building plans, and he recently promised Shas Party Chairman and Industry Minister Eli Yishai that there was no freeze on construction in the capital. At Monday's Economics Committee meeting, however, Ma'ayan said that the Housing Ministry has postponed marketing 750 apartments in East Jerusalem's Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood and another 150 apartments in the Har Homa neighborhood. In both cases, he said, the ministry told him that Olmert had not yet approved the projects. Boim denied this, however, saying the tenders for the Pisgat Ze'ev construction were in the final stages of coordination with the Jerusalem Municipality, and that the tenders for Har Homa - which he said were for 360 units - would be published soon. Dov Gal, deputy director of the Housing Ministry's Jerusalem District, also denied the report, saying there was no order that construction in East Jerusalem needed approval from the government. But Ma'ayan said that Gal was behind the times - and several Knesset members said that Ma'ayan's statements had been confirmed to them by Boim himself. Gal did confirm that he had been ordered to freeze construction in the settlements around Jerusalem, including Efrat, Gush Etzion, Givat Ze'ev, Adam and Beitar Ilit. MK Uriel Ariel (National Union-National Religious Party), who requested Monday's meeting, said that altogether, the Housing Ministry has halted marketing of some 2,300 apartments in and around Jerusalem. In response, the Prime Minister's Office said that construction in East Jerusalem has not been frozen, but because of its diplomatic sensitivity, Olmert has asked to be informed of all building plans there, so that he will not be taken by surprise. After the meeting, Ma'ayan told Haaretz that despite this directive, the municipality is moving forward with plans to build some 10,000 apartments in Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, including Ramot, Ramat Shlomo, Pisgat Ze'ev, Neveh Ya'akov, East Talpiot, Har Homa and Gilo. The largest of these calls for building some 4,000 apartments in Givat Hamatos, in the city's southern section. That plan is currently being discussed by the regional planning and building committee. Negative migration Nir Barkat, who heads the opposition in the Jerusalem city council, told the Economics Committee that the capital continues to suffer from a negative balance of migration, in part because of soaring apartment prices. This conclusion was echoed in a study by the Knesset's research division that was presented to the committee on Monday. The study also found that while all governments talk about developing Jerusalem, few actually do anything about it. Barkat, who belongs to Olmert's Kadima Party, also asked Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to deny recent claims by Palestinian officials that Israel has already agreed to concessions in Jerusalem, including ceding the city's Arab neighborhoods to the Palestinians. Alternatively, if the reports are true, he demanded that she "reveal all the secret agreements on the floor of the Knesset." Livni's media advisor, Gil Messing, responded that the minister does not comment on reports about her talks with the Palestinians, and therefore refused to either confirm or deny that the future of Jerusalem had been discussed. But the Palestinian comments increased pressure on Shas to quit the government, as it has repeatedly pledged to leave the moment negotiations on Jerusalem begin. Related articles: Official: Jerusalem construction tenders beyond Green Line now need prime minister's approval Livni to try to prevent Quartet condemnation of East Jerusalem construction Housing Min. rejects Rice warning against E. J'lem construction Jerusalem promises to freeze W. Bank settlement construction Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gore wins TAU prize Al Gore and Amos OZ are among the recipients of the 2008 Dan David Prize. Spring roll strike Asian eateries across Israel cut menu over plans to rid kitchens of foreign chefs.   1.   "Land For Peace" Leads to "Land For Terrorism" 04:29  |  Joseph . E 12/02/08   2.   building jerusalem 04:58  |  George 12/02/08   3.   Baghdad street 05:06  |  Tobjo 12/02/08   4.   What Ahmed Oilymert, Livni, Barak, Boom-Boim and Kadima are doing 07:19  |  EGW 12/02/08   5.   What more does Shas need to hear? 08:09  |  redmike 12/02/08   6.   Why Apartments for Jews Only? 08:50  |  B`Galil 12/02/08   7.   can yishai read this article and doubt the quislings giveaway 08:54  |  v hardman 12/02/08   8.   Greedy Isralis 08:55  |  Minda 12/02/08   9.   Jerusalem should should not be divided. 09:24  |  Malka Ziv 12/02/08   10.   isreal has to build and ignore its enemies 10:05  |  amir yoffe 12/02/08   11.   Build roads and collect garbage instead 10:25  |  ralph is back 12/02/08   12.   encourage more Jews to move here is e best way to preserve J`lem! 10:42  |  mary for jews 12/02/08   13.   # 6 10:49  |  rm 12/02/08   14.   FIRE BOIM! 11:14  |  Awake 12/02/08   15.   Uri Lupoliansky should be charged by an International Court 12:28  |  SJ 12/02/08   16.   B`Galil 36 12:50  |  Avi Yerushalmi 12/02/08   17.   Israel Never Wants Peace 13:16  |  An Arab Neighbor 12/02/08   18.   The Aparthied Case grows stronger 13:40  |  Tim 12/02/08   19.   I doubt it 13:52  |  jackie 12/02/08   20.   It doesn`t matter who builds the apartments 14:02  |  Natallie Durson 12/02/08   21.   KEEP BUILDING ISRAEL IT`S YOUR LAND 15:02  |  Petra 12/02/08   22.   #14 what peace process?????????????? 15:16  |  v hardman 12/02/08   23.   #10 Building 16:28  |  Russ 12/02/08   24.   Is Petra a Jewish settler? 17:16  |  Minda 12/02/08   25.   Minda 19:44  |  Don 12/02/08   26.   Only One Jerusalem 23:29  |  Salty 12/02/08   27.   Stop the EVIL Jew-Hate! Stop the VILE FILTHY RACISM Against Jews! 04:08  |  Linda Rivera 13/02/08   28.   Jew-HATERS WICKED LIE of Occupation. Return STOLEN JEWISH LAND 04:31  |  Linda Rivera 13/02/08   29.   Jew-HATERS WICKEDLY Ignore Justice for One Million JEWISH REFUGEE 04:33  |  Linda Rivera 13/02/08   30.   Jew-HATERS DECEIVE for Expansionist Islam. Already ARAB Pal State 04:34  |  Linda Rivera 13/02/08   31.   Dan` s sense of humour 11:00  |  Minda 13/02/08

Today Online PM: Major progress possible on borders of Palestinian state Responses: 49 Barak says ministerial calls for action in Gaza are 'dangerous' Responses: 18 Amira Hass: Gazans wonder what's new about Israel wiping out neighborhoods Responses: 3 Haaretz.com TV: Teen recalls Qassam attack in which his brother lost a leg Responses: 3 Rosner's Domain Guest: Why does Obama think talking to "Hitler" can succeed? Obama is gaining momentum - also among Jews Democratic policy unity is a mirage (WTR) Poll: Is it legitimate to cut electricity to Gaza? Factor: How's McCain better than Obama More Headlines 11:11 Hezbollah: Deputy chief killed in Syria blast 10:52 Aliyah envoy arrested over fake conversions 10:38 Olmert: Significant progress possible on borders of Palestinian state 07:47 Dov Alfon named as new Haaretz editor-in-chief 08:21 City manager insists gov't delaying Jewish housing in E. J'lem 05:16 Fatah undergoing major democratic reform to compete with Hamas, Fayyad 07:23 Barak says ministerial calls for action in Gaza are 'dangerous' 09:53 Oscar-tipped Jewish filmmakers seal deal on bestseller screen adaptation 08:35 Obama wins three primaries, takes Democratic delegate lead 08:51 Argentine Jews mourn car crash death of prominent rabbi, aged 37 02:50 Senior Shas officials: Rabbi Yosef not ready to quit coalition 09:49 Aides: Katsav should break gag order in sex crimes plea bargain 19:03 Peres: If we're fired upon, we must hit back without hesitation Previous Editions Select Day 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan

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