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Latest update: 19/06/2011
- Israeli settlements - Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israel approves expansion of 2,000 settlement homes
Jerusalem approved the expansion of 2,000 settlement homes in the east Jerusalem district of Ramat Shlomo Saturday, which has been under occupation since 1967 but is internationally recognised as part of the Palestinian Territories.
By News Wires (text)
AFP – Jerusalem's municipal council on Sunday approved the expansion of 2,000 homes in the settlement district of Ramat Shlomo, allowing each home to add a room, the interior ministry said.
"Jerusalem's planning and urbanisation committee on Sunday authorised the enlargement of 2,000 homes in the neighbourhood of Ramat Shlomo," it said in a statement.
"An additional room will be built in each of these 2,000 homes in response to the needs of the numerous families suffering from housing problems in this area," it added.
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The Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood lies in an area of Arab east Jerusalem, which Israel captured during the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed in a move not recognised by the international community.
Israel considers Jerusalem to be its undivided capital, but the Palestinians, with the support of much of the international community, want to make east Jerusalem the capital of their future state.
Israel's construction or expansion of homes in the area has drawn criticism from European capitals and Washington in the past, and settlement building in Ramat Shlomo led to a crisis in relations with the United States last year.
In March 2010, Israel announced approval for the construction of 1,600 homes in the settlement neighbourhood just as US Vice President Joe Biden visited the Jewish state for meetings with Israeli officials.
The announcement angered Biden, and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to offer an apology for the "unfortunate timing."
That announcement came as US officials laid the groundwork for the resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians, the first in nearly two years.
The talks were launched later that year in Washington, but ground to a halt shortly after they started when Israel declined to renew a moratorium that froze settlement construction in the West Bank, though not in Jerusalem.
The Palestinians have refused to hold talks while Israel builds on land they want for their future state, and negotiations have remained on hold since late September 2010 because of the issue.
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Comments (4)
Life should be flexible
In accordance with the changes that have occurred in several countries in the Middle East, the Israeli conflict with the Palestinians should also have changed as well. That is, we must realize that the State of Israel is strong and difficult for the opponent. Because it would be wiser if the Palestinians in advance requires a decent life assurance guarantees, especially for children to remain as high school.
Sesuai dengan perubahan yang sudah terjadi di beberapa negara di timur tengah, maka konflik Israel dengan Palestina pun sudah selayaknya mengalami perubahan juga. Artinya, kita harus sadar bahwa Negara Israel itu kuat serta sulit untuk di lawan. Karena itu akan lebih bijaksana apabila rakyat Palestina terlebih dahulu menuntut adanya jaminan hidup layak terutama jaminan untuk anak-anak agar tetap dapat sekolah setinggi-tingginya.
wrong
Please don't say "Jerusalem approves", Jerusalem represents its people, palestinians in majority,therefor your statement is completely wrong and absurd. you can correct it by "the israeli government approves, again, the construction of thousands of illegal houses in the palestinian territory...." etc
stuff it obama
Israel says: Stuff it Obama!
Greed is Blind
should we recognize their right to build at will even though it is against all international laws as well as their right to exist. But what rights do the people whose land they have Illegally taken and treat them like herded cattle for the last 65 years.
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