Israel 'Revives' Eastern Jerusalem Settler Homes Plan

Rasa - Israeli authorities on Wednesday revived plans to build 500 new homes for settlers in the Israeli-occupied Eastern Jerusalem, a first since the US presidential election.

News ID: 425257

Date: 23 November 2016 - 21:30

RNA - "This morning, the local planning and building committee made the decision to advance plans for 500 units in Ramat Shlomo," the Ir Amim anti-settlement NGO said, the West Australian reported.

The plans had been on hold since 2014, it said.

The Jerusalem municipality said the "plans in question are not new and were approved years ago."

More than 200,000 Israelis now live in communities in Eastern Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed.

The move was never recognized by the international community, which regards all settlements in the occupied territories as illegal, including those in Eastern Jerusalem.

Betty Herschman of Ir Amim said the latest announcement had particular significance as it was the first since Donald Trump's upset US presidential election win earlier this month.

Israeli right-wingers have been hoping that the maverick Republican will prove far less critical of settlement expansion than President Barack Obama.

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