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Israel

Outrage over East Jerusalem plans

November 24, 2016 20:30

ByBen Lynfield, Ben Lynfield

1 min read

In the face of criticism from the Palestinian Authority, the United States and the UN, Israeli housing minister Zeev Boim has defended a decision to expand Jewish housing in parts of East Jerusalem considered as settlements by the international community.

Mr Boim said that the decision to build nearly 900 units at Har Homa and in Givat Zeev was taken with the “knowledge and approval” of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and underlined the government’s policy to maintain Jerusalem as an undivided capital.

“Jerusalem must remain the capital of Israel and undivided, but solutions must be found for the large Arab population,” he said.

It is the largest planned settlement expansion announced since the Annapolis summit in November, when Israel reaffirmed its commitment to a settlement freeze.