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Israel Approves Jewish Housing Project in Disputed East Jerusalem

   VOA News 05 January 2010
   Construction  workers  are  seen  on  a new housing development in the
   Jewish neighborhood of Har Homa in east Jerusalem, 16 Dec 2009

Photo: AP

   Construction  workers  are  seen  on  a new housing development in the
   Jewish neighborhood of Har Homa in east Jerusalem, 16 Dec 2009

   Israeli authorities have approved the construction of four residential
   buildings for Jews in disputed east Jerusalem, triggering condemnation
   from Palestinians.
   A  Jerusalem  municipal  committee authorized the project Tuesday.  It
   calls  for the construction of 24 apartments next to a Jewish seminary
   on the Mount of Olives, effectively creating a new Jewish neighborhood
   in the area.
   Palestinian  Authority  negotiator  Saeb  Erekat  condemned  the plan,
   saying  continued  settlement  activity  in  east Jerusalem undermines
   efforts  to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Palestinians claim
   east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
   Israel  captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed it
   in a moved not recognized internationally. The Jewish state claims all
   of  Jerusalem as its capital and does not consider construction in the
   eastern sector to be settlement activity.
   The  Mount  of  Olives  housing  project  is funded by American Jewish
   millionaire  Irving  Moskowitz,  who  has backed other Jewish property
   developments  in  east  Jerusalem.   The Mount of Olives is home to an
   ancient Jewish cemetery and several Christian holy sites.
   Palestinian  President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded that Israel stop all
   construction in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank before peace
   talks  resume.   Israel  has  said  it is ready to resume negotiations
   immediately without preconditions.
   Israel's  government  imposed a 10-month limit on construction in West
   Bank  settlements  last  November,  saying it was a gesture toward the
   Palestinians.   Mr.  Abbas'  government  said  the move is not enough.
   Israel excluded east Jerusalem from the construction slowdown.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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