(Jerusalem Post-Times of Israel) Building tenders were issued by the Israel Land Authority on Tuesday for two Jerusalem neighborhoods: 606 are slated for Ramot and 607 for Pisgat Ze'ev, both inside Jerusalem city limits. An additional 72 units are slated for the city of Ariel (pop. 18,000). Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein noted that Israel has always insisted that it has a right to build in Jerusalem, which it considers to be the country's united eternal capital. Edelstein said that in any scenario that resolves the conflict with the Palestinians, these two neighborhoods will remain part of Israel. A senior Israeli official said that the tenders were simply the execution of a government decision from November and December of last year. Spokesmen for the Construction and Housing Ministry confirmed that information about these projects had previously been published and condemned by the international community. They added that the housing was necessary to relieve a shortage in the city and bring down prices.
2012-11-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive