A letter expressing support for continued construction in Jerusalem was signed by 15 cabinet ministers on Sunday ahead of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s departure for N. America. Signatories include Labor Party leader Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The letter is the initiative of Kadima MK Otniel Schneller.

At present, 70 MKs have signed, including lawmakers from all parties except Arab parties and Meretz, now including a number of cabinet ministers.

Ministers who agreed to sign include Dan Meridor, Michael Eitan, Yuli Edelstein, Yisrael Katz, Avishai Braverman, Meshulam Nahari, Gideon Saar, Yossi Peled, Yuval Shteinitz and Shalom Simchon.

As was reported last week, opposition leader Tzipi Livni did not sign. Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin also did not sign, explaining he objects to the wording of the letter which can be interpreted as a willingness to relinquish Israeli sovereignty on so-called Arab areas of the capital.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)