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Netanyahu: Quickly start construction across Jerusalem

September 21, 2017 at 11:56 am

Construction work to expand the Israeli settlement in Jerusalem [Mahfouz Abu Turk / ApaImages]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for construction across occupied Jerusalem as quickly as possible, Israel’s Jerusalem Net magazine reported.

According to the weekly publication, Netanyahu made the calls during a meeting with the leader of Likud’s Jerusalem branch, contractor Ilan Gordo, last Thursday, shortly after attended the opening of the first phase of the Begin Highway and the Rosmarin Interchange in Gilo settlement.

The Israeli prime minister called for construction to begin quickly at Givat HaMatos, near Beit Safafa, where the plans have changed over the years, despite permits having been already obtained. According to the magazine, this is due to the disputes regarding the percentage of the construction allotted to the Jews.

There has been talk about a large-scale construction plan consisting of about 2,600 settlement units, including 600 units for Arab citizens in the area close to Beit Safafa.

Read: New Israeli settlement plan in Jerusalem’s Old City

Netanyahu told Gordo that he is personally involved in this matter and is making serious efforts in order for construction to occur all across the occupied city, including the area under the control of the municipality behind the Green Line.

He noted that construction in the areas behind the Green Line must take place gradually because timing plays an important role in this, referring to American and European diplomatic pressures against construction in the territories occupied in 1967.