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Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim. (Alon Ron)
Last update - 13:39 03/06/2008
Housing Min.: Olmert backed move to build new homes in E. Jerusalem
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Ban Ki-moon, Jerusalem 

Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim said Monday that the decision to build hundreds of new apartments in the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Pisgat Ze'ev and Har Homa was approved by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Tenders were issued for the construction of 884 homes last week. Both the White House and the United Nations on Monday expressed concern over the plans to build in eastern parts of the Jerusalem municipality, due to the obstacles such construction pose for peace talks with the Palestinians.

Boim said that the apartments will all be built within the municipal borders of Jerusalem. He added that while Jerusalem must remain united, solutions must be found for the large Arab population in the city.
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Boim also said that no decision has been made to build in the controversial E1 area between Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, because it would disrupt the territorial contiguity between the north and south West Bank.

Meretz MK Zehava Gal-On said Monday that Boim and Olmert's decision to issue the tenders reveals the true nature of the current government, which talks about peace, but in fact is sabotaging any chance of a future agreement.

On Monday, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters at a press briefing that "our position on the settlements is that we don't believe that any more settlements should be built, and we know that it exacerbates the tension when it comes to the negotiations with the Palestinians."

According to a transcript released by the White House, Perino also said that the expansion of existing settlements "is part of the problem in terms of Palestinians feeling that that is not acting in good faith when it comes to their negotiations."

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday stated that he was "deeply concerned" about the move by Israel.

Ban, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, said he was "deeply concerned at the recent announcement by the Israeli government to invite new tenders for construction in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem."

"The Government of Israel's continued construction in settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is contrary to international law and to its commitments under the Road Map and the Annapolis process," the statement said.

On Sunday, Israel announced plans to build approximately the new housing units in an area of the occupied West Bank the government considers part of Jerusalem.

The two areas are Pisgat Ze'ev and Har Homa, an area Palestinians refer to as Jabal Abu Ghneim.

Housing Minister Zeev Boim instructed his office to publish a tender to build additional housing units in the two areas as steps meant to "strengthen Jerusalem."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the plans at a meeting on Monday with Olmert.

"Differences were deep and strong in this area," Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said of the settlement issue, which has dogged U.S.-sponsored peace talks since they were launched in November.

The two leaders met on Jerusalem Day, Israel's celebration of the reunification of the city, which had been divided into Israeli and Jordanian sectors from Israel's establishment in 1948 until the 1967 Six Day war.

Earlier in the day, Abbas denounced settlement construction at a joint news conference at his West Bank headquarters with visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"If Israel does not stop these settlement activities, then it is difficult to reach a peace agreement," Abbas said at a joint news conference at his West Bank headquarters with visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Steinmeier urged both sides to refrain from anything that would hinder an agreement.

"This includes violence, such as rocket attacks from Gaza at Israel," he said. "However, this also includes settlement construction, which makes your [Abbas'] current talks with Prime Minister Olmert anything but simple."

The announcement of the planned construction in East Jerusalem came just ahead of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's meeting this week with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington as part of a three-day visit. Olmert has praised the housing plan.

The United States, as well as the Palestinians, have called for a halt to settlement expansion.

Olmert, in keeping with the previous government's policy, has vowed to keep West Bank settlement blocs, including areas near Jerusalem, under any future peace accord.

The 2003 peace "Road Map," reaffirmed by Israeli and Palestinian leaders at a conference hosted by Bush last year in Annapolis, Maryland, requires a halt to all settlement activity on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood.

Both of the areas slated for construction are located on lands conquered by Israel during the 1967 Six Day war, and were incorporated into the municipal borders of Jerusalem in an act not recognized internationally.

Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a state they hope to establish in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.



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      1.   THE UN SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH HIZBOLLAH/HAMAS! UN=APPEASERS! 22:40  |  OLMERT=CRIMINAL 02/06/08
      2.   Oom Shmoom 22:41  |  Fish 02/06/08
      3.   Ban Ki Moon and history 22:42  |  Philippe 02/06/08
      4.   stay in our Jerusalem 22:42  |  Boris 02/06/08
      5.   UN should be concerned 22:51  |  Ephraim 02/06/08
      6.   why this desire to self-destruct? 22:55  |  Ernst 02/06/08
      7.   Annexed Land 23:00  |  Jake 02/06/08
      8.   Jerusalem IS the undividable capital of ISRAEL 23:07  |  Billy the Jew 02/06/08
      9.   How "shallow" is their concern for Darfur for instance, 23:11  |  Pervert 02/06/08
      10.   Its not "palestinian" territory, never was, never will be.... 23:16  |  Jordan 02/06/08
      11.   Jerusalem is ours 23:16  |  Dr David I. Gross 02/06/08
      12.   #1 Ernst, Israel is surrounded by enemies bent on her destruction 23:17  |  david 02/06/08
      13.   Consider this 23:22  |  Gili 02/06/08
      14.   Ernst-#1 23:27  |  Honest Observation 02/06/08
      15.   ernst is right 23:28  |  avi 02/06/08
      16.   #1 Ernst 23:30  |  Adam 02/06/08
      17.   Why should Iran ever take this organization seriously? 23:30  |  Iranian 02/06/08
      18.   Action speaks louder than words 23:33  |  Natallie Durson 02/06/08
      19.   Let`s settle Darfur refugees there! So UN will learn Darfur... 23:34  |  Alain 02/06/08
      20.   # 7 jake 23:35  |  Axel 02/06/08
      21.   # 3 philippe 23:40  |  Axel 02/06/08
      22.   Bush to Olmert at their meeting next wek 23:42  |  Labhras 02/06/08
      23.   # 13 gili 23:44  |  Axel 02/06/08
      24.   #10 david 23:46  |  Adam 02/06/08
      25.   I`m not sure why anyone pays any attention to the UN 23:49  |  PK 02/06/08
      26.   UN should express concern over QASAMS and other TERRORIST ATTACKS 23:51  |  Vittorio 02/06/08
      27.   Posters her like spoiled brats in a playgrond 23:51  |  Labhras 02/06/08
      28.   Hey world - drop dead. we need places to live. Oh, and it is ours 23:52  |  Jewish State 02/06/08
      29.   Israel has full rights to build anywhere in Israel its ancient ho 23:59  |  RW 02/06/08
      30.   Axel Nazi spewing Antisemitism again 00:00  |  Genuine Tosefta 03/06/08
      31.   Jerusalem is better off in Israel 00:01  |  Joe Frazier 03/06/08
      32.   Darfur Black refugees live in the arid desert under opened skies 00:03  |  Genuine Tosefta 03/06/08
      33.   Jerusalem is not yours 00:05  |  Soldier of Above 03/06/08
      34.   It`s not a settlement-it`s the Jewish capital! 00:05  |  Will 03/06/08
      35.   James Baker used a slightly different term a few years ago..... 00:13  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/06/08
      36.   to 4 00:13  |  Anthony 03/06/08
      37.   Apparently, the US is ALSO concerned 00:13  |  Worry Wort 03/06/08
      38.   to billy 8 00:20  |  Anthony 03/06/08
      39.   crazy nonsense 00:50  |  Matt 03/06/08
      40.   Cut the Israelis off 01:00  |  Jack 03/06/08
      41.   NO to UN Crap 01:03  |  Brod 03/06/08
      42.   Yea, more apartheid housing for JEWS ONLY 01:06  |  POP 03/06/08
      43.   Yea, more apartheid housing for JEWS ONLY 01:06  |  POP 03/06/08
      44.   Its not just the neighbors - its the real truth 01:08  |  Ariel 03/06/08
      45.   Which is It Israel 01:08  |  Abe 03/06/08
      46.   #8 Billy the Jew Jerusalem is Israel??? 01:09  |  Jim 03/06/08
      47.   axel what business is it of yours where the jews build 01:17  |  ivri 03/06/08
      48.   #4 Boris 01:17  |  Boycott 03/06/08
      49.   #6 Ernst 01:20  |  Boycott 03/06/08
      50.   jews build on jewish land and the earth comes to a standstill 01:22  |  ivri 03/06/08
      51.   #5 Ephraim 01:22  |  Jim 03/06/08
      52.   swiss dino james baker`s words 01:24  |  ivri 03/06/08
      53.   #7 Jake and Apartheid 01:26  |  Boycott 03/06/08
      54.   #23 soldier 01:37  |  Boycott 03/06/08
      55.   U.N. very worried. 01:37  |  Dudka 03/06/08
      56.   #6 Ernst 01:40  |  Jim 03/06/08
      57.   #25 Dino 01:40  |  Boycott 03/06/08
      58.   #12 david 01:45  |  Jim 03/06/08
      59.   to our overseas posters-map of Jerusalem 01:46  |  Realist 03/06/08
      60.   Concern From Whom? But Where`s The Do? 01:54  |  Jeff Northridge 03/06/08
      61.   I`ll tell you what Baker said 17 YEARS AGO 01:55  |  Jack 03/06/08
      62.   #15 avi 01:59  |  Jim 03/06/08
      63.   Axel - JERUSALEM IS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL 02:02  |  RW 03/06/08
      64.   #18 Alain 02:04  |  Jim 03/06/08
      65.   pop No. 30 02:11  |  Dudka 03/06/08
      66.   800 homes 02:12  |  Gregor 03/06/08
      67.   #7 Jake makes many mistakes. 02:20  |  Johnboy 03/06/08
      68.   #7 Axel re Jake and the West bank 02:21  |  Labhras 03/06/08
      69.   #7 Jake has been annexed from reality 02:30  |  Labhras