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‘Proper Zionist response’: Israel issues tenders for 1,500 new settlement homes
Israel‘s housing ministry has issued 1,500 tenders for new settlement housing units, explaining the move as a response to the Palestinian unity government.
Tenders for 900 housing units in the West Bank and 560 units in east Jerusalem were issued late Wednesday. Housing Minister Uri Ariel described the move as a response to the new Palestinian unity cabinet, which was sworn in Monday.
“I congratulate the decision to give a proper Zionist response to the establishment of the Palestinian terror cabinet,” Ariel said, Haaretz reported. “The right and duty of the State of Israel to build across the country to lower the housing prices is unquestionable, and I believe these tenders are just the beginning.”
Israel has slammed the reconciliation of the Palestinian Fatah and Hamas movements and has urged the world against recognizing the new unity government.
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized the Obama administration for pledging to work with the new Palestinian cabinet, now including representatives of the Gaza-based Hamas, which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the US, the European Union and Israel.
The new settlement tenders have been condemned by chief Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat, who said the decision was “a clear sign that Israel is moving toward a major escalation.”
“The Palestinian leadership will respond to this new settlement activity in an unprecedented manner,” Reuters reported a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as saying.
Not all of the Israeli government members endorsed the new settlements plan. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said the announcement was a “political mistake… that will only distance us from the ability to recruit the world against Hamas.”
Settlements on the territories Israel captured during the 1967 war have always been a major stumbling block to peace talks between Palestinians and Israel.
The latest round of peace negotiations lasted nine months and ended in April, with no breakthrough achieved.
Reprinted with permission.
Source: http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/proper-zionist-response-israel-issues-tenders-1500-new-settlement-homes/
