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U.S. Rebukes Israel Over New Settlement Activity U.S. Rebukes Israel Over New Settlement Activity in East Jerusalem
(about 3 hours later)
JERUSALEM — The State Department sharply criticized Israel on Wednesday for taking steps to build hundreds of housing units in Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.JERUSALEM — The State Department sharply criticized Israel on Wednesday for taking steps to build hundreds of housing units in Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.
The rebuke returned the settlement issue to the spotlight four weeks after the United States and other nations criticized Israel for continuing to build in occupied territory.The rebuke returned the settlement issue to the spotlight four weeks after the United States and other nations criticized Israel for continuing to build in occupied territory.
John Kirby, the State Department spokesman, described the activities in a statement as “corrosive to the cause of peace.”John Kirby, the State Department spokesman, described the activities in a statement as “corrosive to the cause of peace.”
“These steps by Israeli authorities are the latest examples of what appears to be a steady acceleration of settlement activity that is systematically undermining the prospects for a two-state solution,” Mr. Kirby said.“These steps by Israeli authorities are the latest examples of what appears to be a steady acceleration of settlement activity that is systematically undermining the prospects for a two-state solution,” Mr. Kirby said.
The Israel Land Authority sought bids to build more than 300 units in a belt of territory around Jerusalem that Israel annexed after the Arab-Israeli war of 1967.The Israel Land Authority sought bids to build more than 300 units in a belt of territory around Jerusalem that Israel annexed after the Arab-Israeli war of 1967.
Palestinians and many in the international community view the housing that Israel has built there as illegal settlements. Most Israelis see the area, where about 200,000 Jews now live, as regular suburbs.Palestinians and many in the international community view the housing that Israel has built there as illegal settlements. Most Israelis see the area, where about 200,000 Jews now live, as regular suburbs.
The contract tenders came after other announcements of building plans, including more than 500 housing units at Ma’ale Adumim, a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, and about 770 units in Gilo, a Jewish neighborhood built on annexed territory in southern Jerusalem. Those plans are not as advanced as the four tenders offers issued on Tuesday.The contract tenders came after other announcements of building plans, including more than 500 housing units at Ma’ale Adumim, a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, and about 770 units in Gilo, a Jewish neighborhood built on annexed territory in southern Jerusalem. Those plans are not as advanced as the four tenders offers issued on Tuesday.
The tenders, posted without fanfare on Tuesday on the land authority’s website, came to wide attention after they were publicized by Ir Amim, a group that monitors settlement activity in East Jerusalem.The tenders, posted without fanfare on Tuesday on the land authority’s website, came to wide attention after they were publicized by Ir Amim, a group that monitors settlement activity in East Jerusalem.
Three of the offers were reissues of earlier tenders that apparently attracted no suitable bids from construction companies.Three of the offers were reissues of earlier tenders that apparently attracted no suitable bids from construction companies.
One was part of a 2012 plan, and others dated from a 2010 plan, said Michael Ben Aharon, a senior adviser to the mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat.One was part of a 2012 plan, and others dated from a 2010 plan, said Michael Ben Aharon, a senior adviser to the mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat.
The neighborhoods affected are Gilo with 89 units, Har Homa with 130, Pisgat Ze’ev with 68 and Neve Yakov with 36. Pisgat Ze’ev and Neve Yakov are suburbs built between Arab neighborhoods.The neighborhoods affected are Gilo with 89 units, Har Homa with 130, Pisgat Ze’ev with 68 and Neve Yakov with 36. Pisgat Ze’ev and Neve Yakov are suburbs built between Arab neighborhoods.
“As the recent Quartet Report highlighted, this is part of an ongoing process of land seizures, settlement expansion, legalizations of outposts, and denial of Palestinian development that risk entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict,” Mr. Kirby said in the statement.“As the recent Quartet Report highlighted, this is part of an ongoing process of land seizures, settlement expansion, legalizations of outposts, and denial of Palestinian development that risk entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict,” Mr. Kirby said in the statement.
“Quartet” refers to the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, which have been trying together to nudge Israelis and Palestinians to resume the peace negotiations that broke down more than two years ago.“Quartet” refers to the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, which have been trying together to nudge Israelis and Palestinians to resume the peace negotiations that broke down more than two years ago.
The quartet issued a report on July 1 calling on Israel to halt settlement construction and expansion, and to stop designating land for exclusive Israeli use.The quartet issued a report on July 1 calling on Israel to halt settlement construction and expansion, and to stop designating land for exclusive Israeli use.
Nickolay E. Mladenov, the United Nations special coordinator for Middle East peace, said on Thursday that he was “increasingly concerned by the near-daily advancement of the illegal settlement enterprise in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”Nickolay E. Mladenov, the United Nations special coordinator for Middle East peace, said on Thursday that he was “increasingly concerned by the near-daily advancement of the illegal settlement enterprise in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”
But Mr. Ben Aharon said the new contract tenders were routine parts of a planning and building process that has been in operation for years.But Mr. Ben Aharon said the new contract tenders were routine parts of a planning and building process that has been in operation for years.
The Jerusalem municipality, he said, would “continue to develop all neighborhoods according to the city’s master plan, for the benefit of all of the city’s residents.”The Jerusalem municipality, he said, would “continue to develop all neighborhoods according to the city’s master plan, for the benefit of all of the city’s residents.”
Israeli officials at the Foreign Ministry and prime minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman at the Israel Land Authority declined to comment.Israeli officials at the Foreign Ministry and prime minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman at the Israel Land Authority declined to comment.
Further frustrating international officials, the tenders were issued at a time when Israel has stepped up demolition of Palestinian-owned buildings in East Jerusalem. Eleven houses, mostly vacant, were knocked down overnight in one village near Jerusalem on Tuesday, leaving piles of twisted metal and strewn rubble.Further frustrating international officials, the tenders were issued at a time when Israel has stepped up demolition of Palestinian-owned buildings in East Jerusalem. Eleven houses, mostly vacant, were knocked down overnight in one village near Jerusalem on Tuesday, leaving piles of twisted metal and strewn rubble.
The authorities said the structures were demolished because the owners had not obtained building permits. Palestinian residents and their supporters say the permits are extremely difficult to obtain.The authorities said the structures were demolished because the owners had not obtained building permits. Palestinian residents and their supporters say the permits are extremely difficult to obtain.
The United Nations Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that by its count, 109 structures have been demolished in East Jerusalem this year, including 13 inhabited homes.The United Nations Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that by its count, 109 structures have been demolished in East Jerusalem this year, including 13 inhabited homes.
The total for all of 2015 was 72 structures.The total for all of 2015 was 72 structures.