Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has announced plans for the construction of 560 new housing units in Maale Adumim.

While some applaud the announcement, members of the Knesset Land of Israel Caucus call the move “too little”, demanding on the government to annex Maale Adumim as part of Israel as was done in the Golan Heights. Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin is among the voices calling to annex Maale Adumim, adding “We can’t wait for Moshiach to do this”.

Elkin and others in the caucus explain following the murders of Kiryat Arba resident Hallel Ariel HY”D and Otniel resident Rabbi Miki Mark HY”D, no time is better than now to make such a declaration. Among the signatories on the petition to annex Maale Adumim in addition to Elkin are Ministers Uri Ariel and Chaim Katz of Bayit Yehudi and Likud respectively.

According to the poll published by the Land of Israel Caucus last month, such a move is backed by 78% of Israelis.

The announced plan, in addition to the construction in Maale Adumim calls for 140 apartments in Ramot as well as in Har Choma and Pisgat Ze’ev. In addition, the government plans to build 600 new apartments in the Jerusalem Arab neighborhood of Beit Tzefafa.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)