Netanyahu vows to build more settlements if re-elected

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed today to build thousands of new Jewish-only settlements in the occupied East Jerusalem if re-elected to the premiership.

“We will build thousands of housing units in Jerusalem and continue to develop our eternal capital,” Netanyahu said during a visit to occupied East Jerusalem’s Jewish-only Har Homa settlement.

“Despite international pressure, we will build this neighbourhood,” he was quoted as saying by Israel’s Public Radio.

He lashed out at the electoral list of the Zionist Union coalition – his main electoral rival – saying it would bring Hamas to East Jerusalem.

“If [former Justice Minister Tzipi] Livni [co-leader of the centre-left Zionist Union coalition] and [Labor Party Chairman Isaac] Herzog formed the next government, Hamastan would be established here,” Netanyahu said.

Israel will hold fresh Knesset elections tomorrow.

Competition between Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party and the Zionist Union alliance is expected to be fierce, according to recent opinion polls.