With general elections less than a week away, many Israelis believe the timing of new housing tenders in areas in Yehuda and Shomron is no coincidence, as the Likud/Beitenu list continues to battle to grab votes from Bayit HaYehudi.

The Ministry of Housing announced tenders for 198 new homes in the communities of Efrat (114) and Kiryat Arba (84). One veteran Labor MK and former cabinet minister, MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer blasted the announced, stating “Elections are less than a week away. The move is irresponsible. The prime minister should have waited to permit a new housing minister to make a decision and not make such a controversial announcement at this time.”

Perhaps boosting the prime minister’s popularity among right-wing voters, Peace Now on Wednesday 5 Shevat 5773 released a condemnatory “Settlement Report” that cites a record number of construction projects started or approved in Yehuda and Shomron in 2012. According to Peace Now, 1,400 housing units over the Green Line were started and an additional 6,000 housing units were approved.

The report states most of the new housing units went to Yishuv Har Bracha, Kedumim, Alei Zahav and Tekoa.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)