Israel Approves New Settlement Homes
Israel is inviting contractors to build almost 1,200 new homes in occupied territory claimed by the Palestinians, a controversial move that comes three days before the planned resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel gave final approval for the move on Sunday, issuing tenders for about 800 new homes in Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem and another 400 units in the West Bank settlements of Ariel, Beitar Illit, Efrat and Maaleh Adumim.
Palestinian officials criticized the announcement, accusing Israel of bad faith ahead of a planned Wednesday meeting of Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators in Jerusalem. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem and the West Bank for an independent state and say Israeli settlement expansion will make it harder for them to achieve that.
The Obama administration had no immediate reaction to the Israeli move. But, it has long refused to accept the legitimacy of Israeli settlement activity and called on both Israelis and Palestinians to avoid actions that complicate negotiations.
Israeli Minister Ariel rejected that criticism, saying "no country in the world takes orders from other states about where it can build." The ultranationalist politician also said Israel will continue to issue housing tenders throughout the country as the "right thing" to do for Zionism and the economy.
Israel occupied the West Bank during the 1967 Mideast War and later annexed East Jerusalem as part of what it calls its undivided capital. But, that status is not recognized internationally.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had long insisted that Israel freeze settlement activity before a resumption of peace talks that were stalled for three years until a preliminary meeting in Washington last month. Israel said it rejected preconditions for negotiations.
An Israeli ministerial committee was due to meet Sunday to finalize the release of 26 long-held Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to Abbas ahead of the second round of talks. Israel has agreed to release about 100 Palestinians in several stages depending on progress in the negotiations. Many of them have been jailed for decades for carrying out deadly attacks on Israelis.
Source: Voice of Ameriaca
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