Israeli minister pledges to block a settlements freeze in Jerusalem

Israel’s Housing and Construction Minister, Uri Ariel of the Jewish Home party has promised to continue plans to expand Jewish settlements in Jerusalem and throughout Israel saying he cannot imagine freezing settlements construction in the city.

Ariel and Jerusalem’s mayor Nir Barkat visited on Thursday settlements construction sites in the city and said “We should reduce prices of housing units in Jerusalem, increase marketing and issue more building permits”.

Mayor Barkat said that Jerusalem witnessed an unprecedented building boom, noting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government broke a 20 years record in the number of housing units erected in the city.

Barkat pointed out that construction in Jerusalem is necessary to develop the city, and allow Israeli youth and students to live and buy new apartments there.

He said the upcoming years will witness the construction of tens of thousands of housing units across the city for all sectors and we will continue to develop, expand and strengthen Israel’s capital.

Israeli reports revealed the settlement construction in Jerusalem broke a 20 years record by issuing permits to establish more than 3442 housing units in 2013, compared to 2470 housing units in 2012 and 2360 housing units in 2011.

According to the reports, the construction of 2430 housing units has been completed in 2013, compared to 1760 housing units in 2012 and 1360 in 2011.