Israeli Channel 2 revealed Friday a new Israeli scheme for building 25000 settlement units across occupied Jerusalem.
“The Israeli Housing Ministry is reportedly pushing forward with a massive plan that would add some 25000 new homes to Jerusalem including 15000 units over the Green Line in a move that may test the new US administration’s understandings with Israel over building in areas the Palestinians want for a state” according to the TV Channel.
The plan is set to be announced while US President Donald Trump is due in Israel in late May coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Israel’s occupation of east Jerusalem.
The Israeli Housing Minister Yoav Galant is pushing for the plan the report added pointing out that the plan will cost some NIS 4 billion ($1.1 billion).
The 15000 units planned over the Green Line would be in two new residential neighborhoods: Atarot in the north of the city and Givat Hamatos in the south while 10000 settlement units will be added near Malha Arnona Ramat Rahel and Ein Kerem and other parts of the western half of Jerusalem according to the paper.
The plan is slated to be one of the largest settlement projects outside the Green Line over recent years a period when Israel faced significant international pressure to halt construction in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
