Israel set to approve 1,100 new Jerusalem homes beyond the Green Line
Potential construction in the Gilo neighborhood could possibly complicate U.S. efforts to bring Palestinians, Israel back to the negotiations table following a Palestinian statehood bid.
By Nir Hasson Tags: Middle East peace Palestinians JerusalemThe Jerusalem District Planning Committee is set to approve 1,100 new housing units in Jerusalem's contested Gilo neighborhood on Tuesday, despite past U.S. objections concerning any construction that expanded Gilo further across the Green Line.
The plan was submitted by a subsidiary to the Jewish National Fund, and must pass 60 days in which the public may oppose it before being finally approved by Jerusalem's planning authorities.
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Construction in Gilo |
| Photo by: Emil Salman |
According to the proposal, 20 percent of the units in Jerusalem's southern neighborhood would be allotted for young couples, in compliance with a directive by Interior Minister Eli Yishai. The plan also includes the construction of a boardwalk, public structures, and a commercial center.
The announcement of the possible approval of construction in Gilo comes amid U.S. attempts to push Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiations table following a Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations. A key Palestinian condition ahead of resumed talks has been the complete freeze of all Israeli settlement construction.
In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama, referring to a plan to expand construction in Gilo, said new Gilo homes could complicate efforts by his administration to relaunch peace talks and embitter the Palestinians.
Obama said at the time that additional settlement building doesn't make Israel safer. He said such moves make it harder to achieve peace in the region, and embitters the Palestinians in a dangerous way.
"The situation in the Middle East is very difficult, and I've said repeatedly and I'll say again, Israel's security is a vital national interest to the United States, and we will make sure they are secure," Obama said in the interview.
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For the current members of the Security Council: After this wonderful decision from Bibi's government, you should not have any doubts to support the Palestinian bid.
Hopeless recidivists, the israeli's just can't help themselves
It shows that Israel don't like to have peace. Even without the UN request by the Palestinians, Israel will built. But ok, thats the problem of the Israeli. It is time the EU starts to boycot Israel. Don't wait too long with a boycot as the problems are getting bigger and bigger every day.
Time to sanction this disespectful regime.
personally I do'n't see how things could possibly get any more complicated
comes around. Israel will pay, in one way or another.
if he is elected again he will take us on with a vengeance.do not believe obama.he is an adversary
there will be no peace for Israel, and the more she does these things the worst it will be for her and unfortunately for the diaspora.
they are the masters of our fate and their own.we will listen and we will hear and we willdo as they ask us to
Palestinians don't want a state, they want sympathy, and they are succeeding in getting it. When they will want a state, they will come to talk. Meanwhile, Jordan is becoming more and more relevant as an option.
And Jerusalem is Israel's capital. We will build anywhere we want to here in OUR land, and that includes our eternal, unified capital.
That old lie - where there are 2 police forces, two sets of housing regulations, 2 classes of education provision, 2 different bus services!
pretending to want peace with your neighbors and fight like a man without the support of USA. then, you will see who can build anything anywhere. wait and see if you can, the spoiled child of middle east.
Just a a relationship between individuals could possibly be complicated by a slap in the face?
It is a result of natural outward growth that any community experiences, That convoluted old armistice line notwithstanding.
And you'll see it's a long way over the green line.
It is part of a connected series of communities to the Southwest of Jerusalem.
They warned the Palestinians if they went to the U.N. there would be consequences. So this is what they meant...Israel will take more land. Now we'll see who really owns the U.N. is is Palestine, China, Russia, SCO? Or is it Israel and the U.S.? The heat is on.
who has to give us permission to live in our lands?
This just shows the whole world yet again that the Israeli government are not interested in peace with the Palestinians.
Recall last week's words of Abbas Zaki, member of the Fatach Central Committee: If Israel withdraws from Jerusalem, withdraws the 650,000 settlers and dismantles the wall, What will become of Israel? It will come to an end.
I wonder if this would have been a news in any other part of the World?
If the UK decided for instance to expand Gibralta's neighbouthoods into spain. Yeah, I think that would make the headlines...
You still think Israel can proceed with her dirty little deeds unnoticed?
Bibi says one thing, and does another. Shame, shame, shame.
It is not GILO or PEACE. It is Arabs and other people who deny Jews the right to live and grow in integral Jerusalem neighborhoods who are obstacles to peace.