Beitar Illit project exempted from construction freeze
Israel has given the green light for 112 new homes to be built in Beitar Illit despite a moratorium on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria, said Environment Minister Gilad Erdan on Monday.
The expansion was revealed hours before the arrival of US Vice President Joe Biden and one day after the Palestinians agreed to indirect talks.
Erdan said the project in Beitar Illit, located a few miles south of Jerusalem, was an exception to a partial halt on settlement expansion announced in November.
“At the end of last year, the government decided to freeze construction, but this decision provided for exceptions in cases of safety problems for infrastructure projects started before the freeze,” he said.
“Such is the case in Beitar Illit,” he told army radio.
Post-Zionist organization Peace Now slammed the new project, saying it would “widen the gap with the Palestinians and the two-state solution, which risks becoming obsolete.”
The new project came to light a day after the Palestinians grudgingly agreed to four months of indirect peace negotiations with Israel but warned that the US-brokered process would collapse if it continued expanding settlements.
It also came as Biden was to make his first visit to the region since assuming office. US Middle East envoy George Mitchell is also in the region on the latest of several visits to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
The Palestinians insist they will only return to direct talks if Israel agrees to a complete freeze on Jewish construction in the West Bank, including east Jerusalem.
In late November ’09, under heavy American pressure, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced a near-total freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria to lure the PA back into direct negotiations with Israel, but only this week has the PA agreed to four months of indirect “proximity talks.”
The construction in Beitar Illit received a permit long ago, under the Olmert government, reported Arutz Sheva, but foundations have not been laid due to “infrastructure problems and safety issues.” Based on the circumstances Barak declared the project exempt from the freeze.
Erdan played down the chances of a strong US reaction to the announcement and blamed the Palestinians for stalling peace efforts.
“Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden know that the key is that the Prime Minister is ready at any moment to engage in direct negotiations,” he said.
“However, Mahmoud Abbas wants to limit the indirect negotiations to four months after months of setting unprecedented conditions for accepting dialogue, and this is not the way to discuss peace.”
Listings for hotels in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel. No booking fee.