Israel Plans 3 New Jewish Settlements
Mohammed Mar’i, Arab News
RAMALLAH, 11 May 2007 — East Jerusalem Planning and Construction Committee has approved a plan to build three new Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported yesterday.
The plan to build more than 20,000 apartments outraged Palestinians, who claim all of east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
According to the committee’s chairman, Deputy Mayor Yehoshua Pollak, the plan is intended to create continuity between Jerusalem and the Etzion settlement bloc south of the city, and between Jerusalem and the Beit-El area settlements east of West Bank city of Ramallah.
The committee approved the plan roughly 10 days ago. The decision states that due to the National Planning and Construction Committee’s decision to reject the Safdie Plan for expanding Jerusalem westward, “the committee sees fit to announce its intention to change the district outline plan in order to allow construction in additional areas of the city: Walaja, Givat Alona, the Atarot airport area, and more.”
The planning committee’s decision would need approval from other planning authorities.
Haaretz said the authorization process would be long, in part because the plan must receive approval to build in areas not currently designated for construction.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the plan “undermines all the efforts being exerted to revive the peace process.” “Settlements and peace don’t go together,” Erekat said.
RAMALLAH, 11 May 2007 — East Jerusalem Planning and Construction Committee has approved a plan to build three new Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported yesterday.
The plan to build more than 20,000 apartments outraged Palestinians, who claim all of east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
According to the committee’s chairman, Deputy Mayor Yehoshua Pollak, the plan is intended to create continuity between Jerusalem and the Etzion settlement bloc south of the city, and between Jerusalem and the Beit-El area settlements east of West Bank city of Ramallah.
The committee approved the plan roughly 10 days ago. The decision states that due to the National Planning and Construction Committee’s decision to reject the Safdie Plan for expanding Jerusalem westward, “the committee sees fit to announce its intention to change the district outline plan in order to allow construction in additional areas of the city: Walaja, Givat Alona, the Atarot airport area, and more.”
The planning committee’s decision would need approval from other planning authorities.
Haaretz said the authorization process would be long, in part because the plan must receive approval to build in areas not currently designated for construction.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the plan “undermines all the efforts being exerted to revive the peace process.” “Settlements and peace don’t go together,” Erekat said.
Labels: Israel
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