It appears that a construction freeze in yishuvim throughout Yehuda and Shomron is not enough for the White House, with American officials now demanding that a new housing project in the Shimon HaTzaddik (Sheikh Jarrah) area of the capital be halted as well. State Department officials in Washington summoned Ambassador Dr. Michael Oren to voice America’s objections over the construction project in “occupied East Jerusalem”. The controversial project refers to land purchased by American philanthropist Dr. Irving Moskowitz, who together with his wife Cherna have been instrumental in the renewing the Jewish presence in Arab-occupied areas of the eastern capital.
The land parcel in question in this project was purchased by Moskowitz in 1985, and it was leased to the Israel Border Police as a base. City planning officials recently approved a plan to construct 20 housing units on the location. The area is adjacent to government complexes including Israel Police National Headquarters, Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Public Security. It is also in the area of Mount Scopus, home to Hebrew University and Hadassah Hospital.
Realizing he has a true friend in the White House, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) turned to the American leader seeking his intervention, maintaining continued construction by Israel in eastern Jerusalem will hamper final status agreement efforts. Abu Mazen is very clear in his appeal to the White House for assistance, stating continued Israeli construction further complicate efforts to establish eastern Jerusalem as the PA (Palestinian Authority) capital. The PA further maintains that construction in the “Arab area” of Jerusalem will result in demographic changes and this is unacceptable, explaining while the Obama administration opposes construction in settlements, Israel now undertakes building in “East Jerusalem”.
The ambassador expressed surprise over the request, explaining the project is a private endeavor and it has received the necessary permits to move ahead from Jerusalem City Hall. The ambassador also pointed out that in recent years, some 250 dumans (62.5 acres) of land in western Jerusalem by Arabs.
In addition to the United States, British diplomatic officials in Jerusalem also voiced their country’s objections to the project, with both countries turning to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who reportedly responded by explaining the project has been granted the necessary permits and it legal.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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9 Responses
It’s not whether it is legal or not.
It’s not whether it is the “occupied” territories or Jerusalem.
It’s the Jews, stupid!
And on this topic anyone can weigh in!
oh my!
Where are the 80% of jews that voted for President Obama, and promised he is a friend of the jews? Where are those that just days ago sat with the president as he renewed his commitment to the jews? And where is our ‘friend’ in the white house Rahm Emanuel? Where are the dozens of jewish advisers?
I’m sorry, but I never heard of a country that, upon winning a war, had to turn the land back over to the losing population. Maybe he’d like to give back Texas to Mexico???
I’m sorry, but I never heard of a country that won a war and had to give back the territory to the losing population. Maybe he’d like to give Texas back to Mexico???
…the construction will hamper final status.. talks. Once and for all, Abu Mazen, Hussain bama, the Brits any anyone else who is sticking their nose in this situation: THE FINAL STATUS OF YERUSHALAYIM HAS BEEN DECIDED. IT BELONGS TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE. IT WAS A GIFT FROM HASHEM. IT IS THE FUTURE HOME OF THE NEXT KING (MOSHIACH). IT WILL BE THE SITE OF THE NEXT AND PERMENANT) BEIT HAMIKDASH. IT IS NOT FOR OUTSIDERS TO LAY CLAIM TO. IT IS NOT FOR US TO GIVE AWAY.
The United States has NEVER recognized Israeli rights in Jerusalem (and arguably, is at most willing to recognize Israeli rights limited to the 1947 partition). All American government, even George W Bush, refused to move the embassy to Jerusalem, since the US doesn’t consider Israel to have any claims to Jerusalem. There is no hiddush in this. This is well established American policy.
One should remember that Israel’s existence is not in America’s interests, and that if Israeli is to survive it has to be able to exist in spite of the United States, rather than relying on American aid (whether this is possible, is a different question).
The world views “settlers” as unworthy of “settling” anywhere outside what the world has already determined to be Israel’s borders; the “final status negotiations” (if the “2 sides” ever get to that point) will, as always and like this example, be dictated by the nations of the world, contrary to continued Zionist fantasies of really being a sovereign entity.
Why else would the world dictate where Israel can or cannot build, where the land in question was legally purchased from some non-Israeli owner? If they purchased a plot of land in Jordan and got permission from Jordanian authorities, would the world howl at them for building there, too? Probably.
Two important points
1) After last weeks meeting between the president and jewish so called leaders who did not voice any objections to his demands it is no surprise.
2) The jewish slogan “if you give him a finger he wants the full hand” our so called leaders are digging their own grave.
SEICHEL BROSH