In a move condemned by peace groups as a cynical attempt to distract attention from the housing protests, the Israeli Interior Ministry today announced another expansion of settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, with 930 new homes being planned in Har Homa.
The move was clearly linked to the housing crisis by Interior Minister Eli Yashal, who said that the settlement expansion was crucial in providing “small, affordable housing units” inside Jerusalem.
Except, of course, that the settlement units are not in Jerusalem, but are rather southern East Jerusalem, territory annexed by the Israeli military in 1967. Israel claims the settlement is within the “city limits” but its claim to the territory is not recognized internationally.
And the expansion of the settlement is likely to provide yet more tension with the Palestinian Authority, at a time when Israel was only two days ago pushing for new peace talks. The call for peace talks was offered if the Palestinians promised not to attempt to be recognized as an independent state by the United Nations.
And Israel just provided the world with 930 more reasons to explain why world opinion is turning against them more and more every day.
Israel's den of jackals they call a government needs to go- NOW.
Why do we give them billions if they have money to construct jew only houses? Were is the basic american feeling of all men are equal? Have we turned into Animal farm were all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
Every one of these houses will be constructed on an existing arab home so this is a great lie when they talk about low income housing. How is it cheaper to knock down and then build new. Oh I forgot they even make the poor arab pay to have the home that they have lived for a hundred years knocked down for a polish immigrant who have never had any connection to the middle east.
Why is anyone surprised at what Israel is doing?
And the army of Joshua went into Jericho; murdered every man, woman, child, and livestock and took over the land – then went to the next town and did the same.
Again – any surprise what Israel is doing today?
I have a relative who has become a Christian zionist. Every shameful thing the Israelis do, especially if it involves some form of cruelty towards the Palestinians is cheered and applauded by this so-called 'Christian' rabble. They have forsaken the advice to 'turn the other cheek' and gone back to the law of 'an eye for an eye' with a vengeance that was never seen before. If there ever was a true Christianity (all men are brothers) they are rushing to destroy it.