Palestinians: A plan for a new Jewish settlement in the Israeli occupied Arab east Jerusalem has been submitted for approval to city hall, a newspaper reported on Sunday, which was likely to dominate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming talks with Western leaders.The plan calls for the construction of about 104 housing units in the Ras al-Amud neighborhood, currently home to some 14,000 Palestinians, the Haaretz newspaper reported, quoting sources at the Jerusalem municipality.
"This plan for massive construction in a high-density Palestinian area is extremely dangerous for the urban equilibrium," Yariv Oppenheimer, the head of the Israeli settlement watchdog, Peace Now, told AFP.
Palestinian senior negotiator Saeb Erakat slammed the project, saying in a statement that "Israel’s continued settlement expansion in east Jerusalem is an out and out land grab that threatens the very possibility of a negotiated two-state solution."
Peace Now said that despite a government moratorium announced last week on approving new housing in the West Bank enclaves, more than 40,000 more homes could be built under plans already ratified.
The group said almost 600 housing units have been constructed in the West Bank since the start of the year, including 96 structures in wildcat outposts built without Israeli government approval.
"The construction continues with government support in the large settlement blocs and, in a roundabout manner, in isolated colonies," the report said...more
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