1300 New Israeli Houisng Units to be built in Jerusalem

The Israeli regional committee for planning and construction in Jerusalem Municipality announced on the 13th of June 2008 about new tenders for the construction of 1300 housing units in the settlement of Ramat Shlomo (Reches Shuafat) north Jerusalem city. The settlement was established on a previously confiscated land from Beit Hanina, Al Esawiyia and Lifta communities during the seventies. Today, the settlement occupies a total land area 1624 dunums and is inhabited by 14320 Israeli settlers.

Source: Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem

The area where Ramat Shlomo settlement stands today was designated as 'Green Area' by the Israeli Jerusalem Municipality which is an area restricted from development in order to preserve its ecological diversity; Israel often used the umbrella of 'Green Area' and Town Planning Schemes (TPS) to restrict Palestinian construction in East Jerusalem and prevent the expansion of Palestinian communities located in the vicinity of settlements. An example of another settlement that has been built on a 'Green Area' is the settlement of Har Homa south of Jerusalem city. See Map 1

This Israeli announcement is one among series of announcements which have been issued by either the Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction, the Jerusalem Municipality, or the Israeli Civil Administration since Annapolis conference which was held on the 26th of November 2007, all aimed to intensify settlement building in the city of Jerusalem in particular and the West Bank in general. Table 2 lists tenders and plans that were issued during the period of December 2007 and June 2008, which amounted to a total of 30 thousand housing units.

Table 2: Israeli Tender & Plans in the West Bank since Annapolis

 Source: Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem

Israel has accelerated the pace of settlement building in the city of Jerusalem and its environs in particular following the 1967 war. Several steps were taken which showed the Israeli ambitions to fully control the city through encouraging the Israeli presence in it at the same time, placing restrictions on land owners and land uses, while unleashing settlement building in the city and connecting these settlements with a network of bypass roads, all implemented at the expense of Palestinian land in addition to building a wall around the city and annexing the major Israeli settlement blocs. located around the city of Jerusalem to redefine its boundaries and impose a reality on the ground through the so-called 'Greater Jerusalem' scheme at the same time, excluding Palestinian communities east of the city and depriving them off their rights and services.

 Prepared by 
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem