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| Netanyahu Expedites Plan for More Than 1,000 New Apartments in East Jerusalem | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel would fast-track planning for more 1,060 new apartments in populous Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, a move that appears calibrated to appeal to the maximum number of Israelis while causing the minimum damage to Israel internationally, according to Israeli analysts. | JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel would fast-track planning for more 1,060 new apartments in populous Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, a move that appears calibrated to appeal to the maximum number of Israelis while causing the minimum damage to Israel internationally, according to Israeli analysts. |
| But as is often the case, Mr. Netanyahu’s decision prompted swift international condemnation at a time when Israel’s relations with Washington are already strained and risked further igniting Palestinian ire and tensions in Jerusalem. It was also unlikely to satisfy the right-wing political rivals it was intended to appease, the analysts said. | But as is often the case, Mr. Netanyahu’s decision prompted swift international condemnation at a time when Israel’s relations with Washington are already strained and risked further igniting Palestinian ire and tensions in Jerusalem. It was also unlikely to satisfy the right-wing political rivals it was intended to appease, the analysts said. |
| Right-wing ministers have been pressuring Mr. Netanyahu to speed construction in what most of the world considers illegal settlements in the West Bank. Naftali Bennett of the pro-settlement Jewish Home party had threatened to destabilize the government coalition, accusing Mr. Netanyahu of carrying out a quiet building freeze despite many announcements about the advancement of plans. | Right-wing ministers have been pressuring Mr. Netanyahu to speed construction in what most of the world considers illegal settlements in the West Bank. Naftali Bennett of the pro-settlement Jewish Home party had threatened to destabilize the government coalition, accusing Mr. Netanyahu of carrying out a quiet building freeze despite many announcements about the advancement of plans. |
| Unlike more far-flung settlements in the West Bank, building in East Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond the 1967 lines enjoys wide support among Israeli politicians and the public, given the broad consensus in the country that these are areas Israel is likely to keep under any permanent deal with the Palestinians. Analysts note that the parameters for a two-state solution outlined by President Bill Clinton in 2000 envisioned granting Israel sovereignty over Jewish areas in Jerusalem and the Palestinians sovereignty over Arab neighborhoods, though it is not clear if that allowed for enlarging those Jewish areas over time. | Unlike more far-flung settlements in the West Bank, building in East Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond the 1967 lines enjoys wide support among Israeli politicians and the public, given the broad consensus in the country that these are areas Israel is likely to keep under any permanent deal with the Palestinians. Analysts note that the parameters for a two-state solution outlined by President Bill Clinton in 2000 envisioned granting Israel sovereignty over Jewish areas in Jerusalem and the Palestinians sovereignty over Arab neighborhoods, though it is not clear if that allowed for enlarging those Jewish areas over time. |
| “Netanyahu apparently has coalition problems and thought let’s throw them a bone in Jerusalem, which is easier to explain in the world and to the United States,” said Yehuda Ben Meir, an expert at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. | “Netanyahu apparently has coalition problems and thought let’s throw them a bone in Jerusalem, which is easier to explain in the world and to the United States,” said Yehuda Ben Meir, an expert at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. |
| “But you have to see it in the context of the crisis with the United States, the continuous erosion, which is very serious and very dangerous for Israel,” he added. | “But you have to see it in the context of the crisis with the United States, the continuous erosion, which is very serious and very dangerous for Israel,” he added. |
| Washington said it was “deeply concerned” by the reports on Monday. | Washington said it was “deeply concerned” by the reports on Monday. |
| “If Israel wants to live in a peaceful society, they need to take steps that will reduce tensions,” Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, told reporters in a briefing. “Moving forward with this sort of action would be incompatible with the pursuit of peace.” | “If Israel wants to live in a peaceful society, they need to take steps that will reduce tensions,” Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, told reporters in a briefing. “Moving forward with this sort of action would be incompatible with the pursuit of peace.” |
| The United States has consistently condemned unilateral steps that could prejudice the outcome of negotiations over East Jerusalem, which Israel conquered from Jordan in the 1967 war then annexed in a move that was never internationally recognized. | The United States has consistently condemned unilateral steps that could prejudice the outcome of negotiations over East Jerusalem, which Israel conquered from Jordan in the 1967 war then annexed in a move that was never internationally recognized. |
| Palestinian officials say that Mr. Netanyahu has refused to outline the borders of a future Palestinian state or the size of the areas Israel intends to keep, or to commit publicly to land swaps to compensate the Palestinians for any adjustments to the 1967 boundary. | Palestinian officials say that Mr. Netanyahu has refused to outline the borders of a future Palestinian state or the size of the areas Israel intends to keep, or to commit publicly to land swaps to compensate the Palestinians for any adjustments to the 1967 boundary. |
| “We believe such unilateral acts will lead to an explosion,” Jibril Rajoub, a senior figure in Fatah, the mainstream party led by President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, said on Monday. Briefing foreign journalists in the West Bank city of Ramallah he added, “Mr. Netanyahu should not expect a white flag from the Palestinian people.” | “We believe such unilateral acts will lead to an explosion,” Jibril Rajoub, a senior figure in Fatah, the mainstream party led by President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, said on Monday. Briefing foreign journalists in the West Bank city of Ramallah he added, “Mr. Netanyahu should not expect a white flag from the Palestinian people.” |
| The Palestinian leadership is seeking a Security Council resolution calling for an end of the Israeli occupation within two years. Mr. Rajoub, who called the right-wing Israeli ministers “hooligans” and “racist gangsters,” said the leadership had also decided to join the International Criminal Court “at the right time,” a development he said could take place in “a matter of weeks.” | The Palestinian leadership is seeking a Security Council resolution calling for an end of the Israeli occupation within two years. Mr. Rajoub, who called the right-wing Israeli ministers “hooligans” and “racist gangsters,” said the leadership had also decided to join the International Criminal Court “at the right time,” a development he said could take place in “a matter of weeks.” |
| Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Mr. Abbas and the veteran chief Palestinian negotiator, said in a statement, “This announcement amounts to evidence of an intent to further commit crimes defined by and punishable under international law.” | Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Mr. Abbas and the veteran chief Palestinian negotiator, said in a statement, “This announcement amounts to evidence of an intent to further commit crimes defined by and punishable under international law.” |
| The move announcement concerned about 600 new apartments in Ramat Shlomo, an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood where a similar announcement during a visit to Jerusalem by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in 2010 contributed to a crisis in Israel’s relations with Washington. It also involves 400 units in Har Homa, in the southeast, whose construction in the 1990s led to international protests. The Israeli prime minister’s office also said there would be a parallel push for new roads and other infrastructure projects in the occupied West Bank. | The move announcement concerned about 600 new apartments in Ramat Shlomo, an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood where a similar announcement during a visit to Jerusalem by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in 2010 contributed to a crisis in Israel’s relations with Washington. It also involves 400 units in Har Homa, in the southeast, whose construction in the 1990s led to international protests. The Israeli prime minister’s office also said there would be a parallel push for new roads and other infrastructure projects in the occupied West Bank. |
| Mr. Bennett and his supporters in the settlement movement had been hoping for housing construction there, not just roads and planning procedures. | Mr. Bennett and his supporters in the settlement movement had been hoping for housing construction there, not just roads and planning procedures. |
| Data issued by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics indicated that West Bank housing starts dropped by 72 percent in the first half of 2014 compared with the same period the year before, when the building rate was unusually high. | Data issued by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics indicated that West Bank housing starts dropped by 72 percent in the first half of 2014 compared with the same period the year before, when the building rate was unusually high. |
| “Infrastructure is welcome, but it cannot come in place of housing units,” Gershon Mesika, the chairman of the settlers’ Samaria Council in the northern West Bank, told Israel Radio. “I very much hope that this spin becomes reality,” he added. | “Infrastructure is welcome, but it cannot come in place of housing units,” Gershon Mesika, the chairman of the settlers’ Samaria Council in the northern West Bank, told Israel Radio. “I very much hope that this spin becomes reality,” he added. |
| Davidi Perl, chairman of the Etzion Bloc Regional Council, said, “There have been a lot of declarations, we want to see action. At the moment, there is nothing on the ground.” | Davidi Perl, chairman of the Etzion Bloc Regional Council, said, “There have been a lot of declarations, we want to see action. At the moment, there is nothing on the ground.” |
| Moderates in Mr. Netanyahu’s government say new building plans will only deepen Israel’s isolation. | Moderates in Mr. Netanyahu’s government say new building plans will only deepen Israel’s isolation. |
| “We are in a crisis with the Americans,” Yair Lapid, the centrist finance minister, told the Ynet Hebrew news site on Monday. “We have to act like someone in crisis.” | “We are in a crisis with the Americans,” Yair Lapid, the centrist finance minister, told the Ynet Hebrew news site on Monday. “We have to act like someone in crisis.” |
| Defending his position in an address to the Parliament, Mr. Netanyahu said all Israeli governments over the last 50 years had built in Jerusalem and the settlement blocs and rejected charges that it would heat up the atmosphere. “To several elements in the region our very existence is what heats up the atmosphere,” he said. “So shall we cease to exist?” | Defending his position in an address to the Parliament, Mr. Netanyahu said all Israeli governments over the last 50 years had built in Jerusalem and the settlement blocs and rejected charges that it would heat up the atmosphere. “To several elements in the region our very existence is what heats up the atmosphere,” he said. “So shall we cease to exist?” |
| Gadi Wolfsfeld, a professor of political communications at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel, said of Mr. Netanyahu, “The truth is he is not really nervous about America or the world anymore because until now nobody has done anything.” | Gadi Wolfsfeld, a professor of political communications at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel, said of Mr. Netanyahu, “The truth is he is not really nervous about America or the world anymore because until now nobody has done anything.” |
| While people speak of Mr. Netanyahu’s actions in terms of political survival, Prof. Wolfsfeld said, “I never think we should be too cynical about his ideology, which includes holding on to Jerusalem forever.” | While people speak of Mr. Netanyahu’s actions in terms of political survival, Prof. Wolfsfeld said, “I never think we should be too cynical about his ideology, which includes holding on to Jerusalem forever.” |
| Though the government has not provided details Ir Amim, an organization that opposes settlement expansion and supports an equitable solution for Jerusalem, said the latest plan for Ramat Shlomo appeared to correspond to one that was last discussed in 2006 and the one for Har Homa appeared to have lain dormant since 2009. | Though the government has not provided details Ir Amim, an organization that opposes settlement expansion and supports an equitable solution for Jerusalem, said the latest plan for Ramat Shlomo appeared to correspond to one that was last discussed in 2006 and the one for Har Homa appeared to have lain dormant since 2009. |
| “All these plans are politically loaded and can be a stop-and-go process,” said Betty Herschman of Ir Amim. They can be sped up for political reasons, slowed down for diplomatic reasons, or determined by market forces. | “All these plans are politically loaded and can be a stop-and-go process,” said Betty Herschman of Ir Amim. They can be sped up for political reasons, slowed down for diplomatic reasons, or determined by market forces. |
| The 1,600 Ramat Shlomo apartments that were announced during Mr. Biden’s visit in 2010 have still not been built. The plans were approved in December 2012 and bids were published for 987 of the housing units during this year, of which 387 have been won by contractors, according to Ir Amim. A district committee was due to meet on Tuesday to hurry that process as well. | The 1,600 Ramat Shlomo apartments that were announced during Mr. Biden’s visit in 2010 have still not been built. The plans were approved in December 2012 and bids were published for 987 of the housing units during this year, of which 387 have been won by contractors, according to Ir Amim. A district committee was due to meet on Tuesday to hurry that process as well. |