As the international community is ganging up against Israel following announced plans to construct 3,000 new housing units, the Jerusalem District Planning Board may give the international community yet another reason to shout. The board has moved up its schedule and plans to convene to discuss approving 1,600 new housing units in Ramat Shlomo, also known as Reches Shuafat. According to a Haaretz report, the board plans to convene in two weeks.

In actuality, the plan for 1,600 units in Ramat Shlomo was approved over two years ago, but the plan was frozen along with other projects following the political row between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and visiting US Vice President Joe Biden.

Now it appears Israel is moving along the lines it promised, to take harsh actions in response to the PA (Palestinian Authority) unilateral bid to gain non-member observer status in the United Nations. Ministry of Interior officials have notified committee members they are planning to meet to give the green line to the 1,600 units.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)