Israeli media sources revealed that Israeli authorities took advantage of the U.S. presidential transition period to approve 10000 new housing units in occupied Jerusalem.
Kol Ha’ir weekly newspaper affirmed that the Israeli government is working to accelerate settlement projects in occupied Jerusalem amid fears that “U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration will impose an artificial settlement suspension during the transition period.”
According to the paper 1100 housing units were approved in Ramat Shlomo settlement in occupied Jerusalem while 2300 others were approved in Gilo settlement.
2620 settlement units were also approved in Givat Hmreis while 734 units were approved in Ramot in addition to hundreds of housing units in settlements of Pisgat Zeev Har Homa Prophet Jacob and Mishor Adumim.
Last week 600 housing units were approved in Ramat Shlomo.
500 other units were approved in the same illegal settlement over the past few months while nearly 1600 housing units are expected to be approved in the near future in the settlement.
Head of the Israeli Local Planning and Building Council Meir Turgeman told the weekly newspaper that Israeli municipality in occupied Jerusalem would accelerate settlement construction during the U.S. presidential transition period.
