Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., March 13, 2008 Adar2 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:31 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Trade Minister and Shas Chairman Eli Yishai. (Tomer Neuberg / Jini) Last update - 04:24 12/03/2008 Shas chair demands that PM unfreeze E. J'lem construction plan By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: settlements, Eli Yishai  Shas Chairman Eli Yishai has posed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with a demand to immediately unfreeze the construction of the Kidmat Zion neighborhood in East Jerusalem, near the Arab village of Abu Dis. The Jewish neighborhood, not yet built, is planned to house 300 apartments. Shas on Monday credited its party members with the recent government approval granted to the construction of 750 new homes in the West Bank settlement of Givat Ze'ev near Jerusalem. Advertisement Several United States officials, including the administration of President George W. Bush, said Monday that continued construction in the East Jerusalem and West Bank settlements hinders the progress of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also urged Israel to reconsider its plan to expand construction in the West Bank. Several Jewish families who purchased homes from Arab owners already live in the area where the planned Kidmat Zion neighborhood was to be built. Some of the lands in question were purchased at the turn of the century by Haredi Jews. Some of those Jewish-owned lands were later turned over to the Jewish National Fund. 90 percent of the lands within the Abu Dis area are defined as area B territory, where the Palestinian Authority maintains civil jurisdiction, but not military jurisdiction. In those areas under Palestinian control, there are still several hundreds of dunams of land owned by Jews. In the parts of Abu Dis that fall under the Jerusalem municipality's jurisdiction (some 10 percent of the area) there are also lands owned by Jews. These lands are designated for the future Kidmat Ze'ev project. Yishai said to Haaretz Tuesday that "Kidmat Zion is located one and a half kilometers from the Western Wall. Any way you look at it - we're talking about Jerusalem. There is no reason to freeze it. After eight people killed [in a terror attack in Jerusalem last Thursday], we should build 100 apartments for every person killed. I have maintained contact with the interior minister, and I will also speak to the prime minister, so that the the construction plan is approved as quickly as possible." Related articles: PA official: W. Bank construction threatens peace process UN Chief, U.S. urge Israel to halt plans to build in W. Bank settlements Housing Min. rejects Rice warning against E. J'lem construction Minister: No freeze on Jewish construction in E. J'lem Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bring the house down Dichter to police: Demolish home of J'lem yeshiva terrorist. Media frenzy Israel to boycott Al-Jazeera TV, claiming incitement to terror.   1.   Typical Shas positioning in order to look tough... 23:16  |  bat yam 11/03/08   2.   You Have Got To Be Joking 01:29  |  Johnboy 12/03/08   3.   They`re right though 01:56  |  Gili 12/03/08   4.   being deliberate 04:53  |  wally 12/03/08   5.   Dissing Abu Dis....... 06:09  |  Johnboy 12/03/08   6.   Apartheid? 13:22  |  nina 12/03/08   7.   Building for Jews on Jewish Land-All Legal 23:42  |  Nat Weinstein 12/03/08   8.   #7 Nat Weinstein reads between the lines.. 08:19  |  Johnboy 13/03/08   9.   #6 nina closes her eyes and says "what`s the problem" 09:08  |  Johnboy 13/03/08

Today Online FM: Israel to stop West Bank settlement activities Responses: 28 Islamic Jihad fires 15 rockets at Israel, ending week lull Responses: 30 Amira Hass: PA officials should act more like Gandhi Responses: 2 Poll: Half of Jewish public oppose Arabs in their neighborhoods Responses: 15 Wagner show in Nazi-era hall to raise funds for Ramallah venue Responses: 12 Rosner's Domain General Fraser and the third whiner What General Fallon didn't get (WTR) Israeli leadership: A mixture of paranoia and luck Poll: Cease-fire with Hamas, a good idea? How Qassams changed the conflict (WTR) More Headlines 08:47 FM: Israel to stop W. Bank settlement activities 10:07 Islamic Jihad fires 15 rockets at Israel, ending week lull 10:08 Israel and the U.S. / Washington dissatisfied with Israel's footdragging in W. Bank 09:13 Targeted assassination / Little room for mistakes 09:18 Wagner show in Nazi-era hall to raise funds for Ramallah venue 09:51 Poll: Half of Israeli Jews don't want Arabs in their communities 09:58 Body of yeshiva gunman buried in private East J'lem ceremony 09:24 Power plays delay recovery of Shoah restitution body 05:57 Sorry, no more children, hopeful parents told after years of waiting to adopt 08:13 IBA exec tried for indecent acts on minor still runs kids' radio 06:58 Rightist rabbis call on Jews to avenge yeshiva killings 04:35 ANALYSIS: Admiral's break with Bush on Iran lands him on the outs Previous Editions Select Day 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb

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