The allocated area is considered particularly sensitive for diplomatic reasons ? Netanyahu in the past torpedoed a similar plan due to international pressure
By Yotam Berger, HAARETZ
Settlers erecting the illegal outpost of Givat Eitam in September, 2018.Olivier FitoussiThe government has allocated about 1,200 dunams (300 acres) for planning of a new neighborhood that would expand the settlement of Efrat toward Bethlehem, in an area considered particularly sensitive for diplomatic reasons.
The neighborhood is expected to expand the built-up area in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc up to the southern outskirts of the Palestinian city, in a manner that would surround Bethlehem with settlements.
The Civil Administration allocated the area to the Housing Ministry at the end of last month, a step that will enable the beginning of the active planning of the neighborhood called Givat Eitam (Eitam Hill). The hill is in Efrat’s area of jurisdiction, but on the eastern side of the separation barrier.
In 2013 the government tried to advance widespread construction in the territories, including several hundred residential units in Givat Eitam, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu torpedoed a similar plan due to international pressure.
About a year later, then-Housing Minister Uri Ariel tried to advance the expansion, but it was halted. In 2016 the government announced that a land survey had been conducted at the site for the purpose of creating a contiguous area of state land between the hill and Efrat. This step was taken in view of the plan to build on private land owned by a subsidiary of the KKL-Jewish National Fund on the hill.
A petition against the planned construction on the site was submitted to the High Court of Justice by Peace Now. At the end of last month the state informed the High Court that an important stage had been carried out for advancing construction at the site: The area was allocated to the Housing Ministry for planning. After the conclusion of the allocation process, which takes a short time, the actual planning of a residential neighborhood at the site will begin.
In its announcement to the High Court, the State Prosecutor’s Office wrote: “Recently the intention of Respondent 2 (the custodian staff officer responsible for
As a result, the government allocated a large area to the Housing Ministry for the purpose of planning the neighborhood – 1,182.5 dunams on the hill. The planning license is scheduled to take effect within 30 days from the date of publication of the announcement on December 26.
The head of the Settlement Watch team in Peace Now, Shabtay Bendet, said, “The government is crossing a red line in advancing a new settlement in E2, which is likely to be a lethal blow to the chance of peace and a two-state solution. The Netanyahu government is carrying out a dangerous and underhanded step in order to avoid public criticism in Israel and worldwide – it is no coincidence that this was done immediately after the announcement of the election, when public attention in Israel is directed at political developments and during the Christmas holiday, when the entire Christian world is on vacation.”
The Efrat local council built a small outpost between two buildings on the hill last September. The illegal outpost served as a kind of statement of the council’s intentions. A residential neighborhood at the site is expected to include several hundred housing units.
Whatever lies Haaretz tells on this subject, the reality is that Israel has done almost nothing to promote settlement growth, let alone new settlements in the Judea-Samaria region since Bibi began his second term as Prime Minister in 2009. He sometimes announces settlement expansion, but has never actually permitted it. Instead, he has permitted a massive growth in Arab settlements in “Area C.” See the following recent article from Arutz Sheva:
‘Peace Now’ provide annual figures of “Construction Starts in Settlements by Year”.
Not exactly friends of Bibi’s so if anything, the figures are an overstatement. Though likely they are correct, being based on Israel’s CBS, the Central Bureau for Statistics.
Bibi’s recent stint as Prime Minister started in March 2009. By next elections, this April 2019 he will have served 10 years. The figures for 2018 have not been published.
Here’s what the figures tell us:
2009 1963
2010 741
2011 1107
2012 1213
2013 2946
2014 1601
2015 1926
2016 3066
2017 1643
These were very very low numbers, for a country with 9 million residents, highly congested in its core region, lacking sufficient housing and running out of space. It’s time they start building.
Israel’s coastal strip is practically squeezed in by Arab towns to the East. The distance to the Mediterranean from Qualqilya, right next door to Kfar Sava is only a narrow 8,6 miles. If hostile forces break through and breach that line, the country would be cut in half.
Arab residents can look eastwards for millions of square miles of ‘contiguous’ Arab presence. Yet the EU keeps demanding ‘geographic contiguity’ for the Arab settlement, taking for granted at the same time that the meagre Jewish land may be torn apart as a consequence. What an insult for Israelis.
The E2 ring surrounding the Tomb of Rachel should be made whole with surrounding Jewish communities as soon as possible.
And the E1 corridor leading from the Maaleh Adumim area from the East towards Jerusalem must be locked in with Jewish towns very expediently.
Who’s behind the war on Orthodox Jewish schools?
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2019/01/whos-behind-war-on-orthodox-jewish.html
I hope that Bibi finds the courage to let the project move forward.
@ Bear Klein:
The Arabs in Israel don’t want peace. They want the end of Israel. Piss Now and the other subversive MGOs don’t care about that fact nor do they care about the loss of Jewish lives from terror.
Peace can come only from Victory and not false ideas such as a two state solution.
Peace Now didn’t get the memo? There will be no more 2-state solutions. Jordan is the Palestinian state already carved out what was given to Israel. The Arabs who call themselves” Falestinians” (no P in Arabic) are not really interested in a new state. They have shown no inclination to build the infrastructure for a state in Gaza, but have polluted the beaches. They want all of Israel and constantly repeat their goal “from the river to the sea”. The King in Jordan has complicated the issue by refusing to give any more citizenships to Palestinian Arabs, as he is a Hashemite. The Hashemite Saudi King and the Palestinians in Jordan to not like each other. In a rational scenario, the King should be replaced by an Arab acceptable to the Palestinian citizens, but so far, none exists. So it has become Israel’s problem so the Arabs can use the conflict as a way to destroy Israel. But it will fail and no realistic solution will thus be found, because the Arabs aren’t interested in any solution that doesn’t destroy Israel.
I’ll believe it when the housing is constructed. Pipi promises new construction and impedes it when he gets international criticism. I would like to see real homes built instead of empty promises. The Arabs don’t apply for permits and build on stolen Jewish land.