Tensions flare up over Jerusalem housing
In perhaps another instance of an ill-timed announcement, the Israeli Interior Ministry said plans had progressed for the construction of some 1,000 new housing units in southern Jerusalem. The publication of the building plans by the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee on November 5 occurred shortly before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for a trip to the United States for the annual convention of the Jewish Federations of North America and to discuss the peace process with Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The announcement, however, concerned building plans that had already been approved some six months earlier and which were simply being published for public review, one more step of the process before construction begins.
Israeli Cabinet Secretary Tzvi Hauser on Wednesday accused the mainstream media of trying to make a crisis out of what was simply a routine public notice of another stage in the long bureaucratic process. Both Israeli and foreign media have run articles focusing on the plans being an obstacle to peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
It was reportedly not immediately clear whether Prime Minister Netanyahu knew of the latest planning move in advance, but Efrat Orbach, the Interior Ministry spokeswoman, pointed out on Monday that the timing was a function of bureaucracy.
The prime minister’s office issued a statement saying that “Jerusalem is not a settlement, it is the capital of Israel.”
“Israel does not see any connection between the peace process and the policy of planning and construction in Jerusalem, which has not changed in 40 years,” the statement read.
While this latest incident will have little impact on any peace talks—which are doomed to fail in any case—it does once again highlight the increasing tension between Israel and America. U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said, “We were deeply disappointed by the announcement of advanced planning for new housing units in sensitive areas of East Jerusalem. It is counterproductive to our efforts to resume direct negotiations between the parties.”
The issue also underlines the fact that Jerusalem will continue to be the primary sticking point between Jews and Palestinians—which is prophesied to lead to violence.
