EMBOLDENED BY TRUMP, ISRAEL ANNOUNCES NEW SETTLEMENTS IN JERUSALEM

Peace, anyone?

Despite the fact that the US Administration call to the Israeli leaders to rein in their statements and reactions on Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and the transfer of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israeli Minister of Construction, Yoav Galant, proposed a plan for building 14,000 housing units in Jerusalem, including 7,000 units in East Jerusalem settlements hours after the decision. According to Galant’s plan, Israel will build 5,000 settlement units in the settlement of Atarot around Qalandia Airport, 2,000 units in the Pisgat Ze’ev settlement, 5000 units in the Katamon and 2,000 at the Rechis Laffan neighborhood in the West Jerusalem.

Following Trump’s recognition, Galant said, I will increase construction in a number of neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Other Israeli ministers said that “no excuses after today,” and that the excuse that prevented construction in Jerusalem is no longer anymore as long as Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

[source : New settlement wave following Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Palestine News Network, http://english.pnn.ps/2017/12/13/new-settlement-wave-following-trumps-recognition-of-jerusalem-as-israels-capital/, 13th December 2017]