Israel OKs east Jerusalem settlement expansion

A Palestinian worker at a construction site in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Sholmo, Dec. 18, 2012. / AP

JERUSALEM Israel is pressing forward with construction in a new east Jerusalem settlement, a municipal official said Wednesday, part of a series of new building plans that have drawn worldwide rebuke, including from its closest ally, the United States.

The Jerusalem Planning Committee approved 2,612 housing units in the Givat Hamatos settlement on Jerusalem's southern rim, said City Councilor Pepe Alalu. The area, inhabited by a few dozen Jewish and Palestinian families who live in rundown trailers, would be the first new settlement to be built in east Jerusalem since 1997. Alalu, who voted against the project, said construction could begin in a year.

Critics consider Givat Hamatos a particularly problematic area to develop because, along with another contentious plan in an area known as E-1, it would hinder access to east Jerusalem from the West Bank. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

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Israel announced the new building push as a response after the U.N. last month recognized a state of Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem — lands Israel captured in 1967 — as a non-member observer.

The plans include thousands of homes for Jews in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, as well as preparations for construction in E-1.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly brushed off the international condemnations of his latest settlement plans. "We are committed to our capital, we are committed to peace and we will build in Jerusalem for all its residents," he said Wednesday.

Israeli critics have accused Netanyahu of backing the plans to pander to hard-line voters ahead of Jan. 22 parliamentary elections. Actual construction on most of the projects could be years away, making it easy for Netanyahu to court voters while leaving open the possibility of putting the projects back on hold after the election. The E-1 plan has been around for years, and has repeatedly been frozen under heavy pressure from the U.S.

Palestinians condemned the latest project.

"The Israeli settlement enterprise in the West Bank and east Jerusalem is killing the two-state solution, and we are taking the battle against this enterprise to the international community," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Wednesday.

Wednesday's approval comes despite unusually harsh criticism from Washington, which on Tuesday accused Israel of engaging in a "pattern of provocative action."

The U.N. Security Council is expected to discuss the matter on Wednesday. The Palestinians believe that all of the council's members except the U.S. will support a resolution condemning the settlement plans. The U.S., despite its opposition to settlements, has historically protected Israel from U.N. condemnations, believing such actions do not contribute to peace.

"Global opinion is in favor of condemning settlement activity, but one country is blocking action, so the 14 other countries of the Security Council will make their positions known," the Palestinian representative to the U.N. told CBS News' Pamela Falk on Wednesday. He predicted that those other Council member nations ambassadors would make their views known in public comments after the Council discusses a resolution.

[john5673]

Yes, Israel is the super power, who has no laws, no boundaries, no ethics, no morality, no shame, no humanity and no LOYALTY to any one including his creators and care takers. Well in short it is an outlawed nation and only Almighty will take care when the right time comes.

[bluecollarjoe]

Israel does not even want peace until they have taken all the land (their) "God gave them". That is supposedly even more land than they currently occupy by force! When will the US government stop pandering to these Zionist international and human rights criminals? We drag our country's international reputation through the mud every time we vote to block even a symbolic statement of condemnation.

[mjlewis6]

It would be more appropriate for the UN to unilaterally declare a Palestinian State just as they did for Israel in 1948. That way, the borders are already designated and this whole business of settlements on Palestinian Lands will be dealt with under Palestinian Government laws instead of negotiation with Israel. They will leave rather than become Palestinian citizens.

The 'right of return' will also be dealt with since those refugees have quadrupled while in exile so that the Palestinian State will have to make some drastic decisions regarding who can return. Israel will deal with its own refugees as it always has with its preferences.

[superdem1]

This is completely unacceptable. The United States should unilaterally call for a Middle Eastern Settlement Conference, and they should invite all the Palestinian groups, and Israel. If Israel says NO, we should grab them by the throat and make sure they are there. There is no secret to what must be in a final deal, this has gone on for far too long for there to be any negotiations needed - every five year old knows what has to be done. We must settle this once and for all, to show the world we are what we claim to be - a fair arbiter. Every day that passes now we show the world the exact opposite, that we are owned and biased towards one side, which controls our government by buying our politicians. All of our high standards about justice and international law are baseless and toothless. We daily allow an international tragedy and outrage to continue.

[mainedemocrat]

This is the true nature of the Israeli state. They want to take all West Bank land from the current inhabitants. The USA allows it with our blind allegiance to these land grabbers.

[judymar14]

I am always for Israel when the rockets start flying, but won't be this time. Only the families who will be moved into these homes who will be the first to be killed. Israel can't leave well enough alone. They are putting their own people in harms way.

[mamasrudeboy]

...it is their nature to slaughter Palestinians and then steal their land...THIS WILL NOT BE THEIR (JEWS) LAST ACT OF SYSTEMATICALLY WIPING OUT THE PALESTINIANS....hmmmmmm

[judymar14]

It is the nature of both, Israel and Palestine to slaughter each other!