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Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106850104
U.S. Pressure on Jewish Settlements Spurs Sales
[NPR] Peter Kenyon - As the Obama administration continues to press for a freeze to all new construction in Jewish settlements, real estate agents are reporting a rush to buy apartments both in eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank. In Maale Adumim, a modern settlement in the hills east of Jerusalem, developers have seen the yellow light of U.S. pressure and are responding with a mini-rush on apartments. Real estate agent Ayalon Cohen says he is selling six to ten units a month, comparable to the fastest-growing towns in Israel. Talk of a settlement freeze, it seems, is good for business. "There's a lot of demand. A young couple that wants to buy in Jerusalem cannot afford to do so," Cohen says. Before Obama's statements, a three-bedroom apartment in Maale Adumim sold for $215,000. Now, the price has jumped to $244,000.