Housing Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel last week visited Ir David and signaled he is thinking of relocating to that location. He feels such a move would significantly support the Elad organization, which continues efforts to purchase properties from Muslims to settle Jews in the expanding Jewish community.

The minister’s staff told the media that Ariel and his wife are contemplating renting in the area and if they do, they will live there for a few days a week. They will remain in their Kfar Adumim home on the other days. Members of his staff stress that Jews have a right to live anywhere legally permissible in the capital.

Meretz party leader MK Zahava Gal-On and other members of the left-wing political community call Ariel’s plans “political provocation”, releasing strong statements of condemnation.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)