The Israeli government on Wednesday announced plans to approve 800 new homes in parts of East Jerusalem already populated by Jews, despite concerns from the US, believing that settlement construction is a hindrance to the peacemaking process with the Palestinians.
Since taking office in January, US president Donald Trump has made concerted efforts in renewing peace talks and expressed his desire for reaching“the ultimate deal.”
In a February meeting at the White House, the US President asked his Israeli counterpart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold back on settlement building.
“President Trump has publicly and privately expressed his concerns regarding settlements,” the White House said in a statement issued following Wednesday’s announcement, reported the Times of Israel. “The administration has made clear that unrestrained settlement activity does not advance the prospect for peace. At the same time, the administration recognizes that past demands for a settlement freeze have not helped advance peace talks.”
“As we have demonstrated in recent trips and conversations with the parties, the Trump Administration is committed to and focused on doing everything possible to advance the prospects of a historic, conflict-ending agreement between Israelis and Palestinians,” the statement continued.
According to the Times, the Jerusalem municipality said it is set to approve the 800 units as well as 114 units in Arab neighborhoods, in an upcoming planning committee meeting.
They will be the first to approved in East Jerusalem since Trump’s request to hold back.
Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat responded that the construction is “essential, important, and will continue full force.”
However, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Ereket called the move, “deliberate sabotage” of renewed efforts to restart peace takes in recent months.
On Monday, Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Israel will be pushing forward with another massive housing expansion plan in East Jerusalem which will see the construction of some 2,000 new homes in the city, after an extended freeze on building in the area.
For the majority of Barack Obama's presidency, the construction plans were frozen but, after Trump's recent visit to the region, including his visit to the Western Wall, the construction will apparently be approved by the government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated in the past that Israel will not stop building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, despite facing criticism from settler leaders who say that a "de facto freeze" is in place.
The status of Jerusalem is a flashpoint issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, while Israel has declared the entire city as its capital.
