Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Monday expressed his support for construction in the E1 area, backing plans to connect Jerusalem to Maale Adumim.

Addressing a Herzliya conference on affordable housing, the mayor expressed his strong support for the plan to connect the capital to Maale Adumim, acknowledging the immense pressure of the international community against such a move. Barkat stated he stands firmly behind the prime minister on this matter, adding “I do not know of another city in the world in which the regulator is the president of the United States.”

Regarding calls from European nations, demands for a “building freeze”, the mayor asked “are they referring to freezing the billions of NIS being spent in the eastern capital towards stopping the Jewish, Arab or Christian construction?”

Barkat questioned if a real estate promoter approaches him with a plan if he must ask which sector he is targeting. He questioned if such a policy would be acceptable in the United States, calling the demand bizarre, adding it is obviously illegal in the United States too.

Regarding threats from London to impose an economic boycott on Israeli goods, the mayor pointed out that London may not since the agreements with Israel were signed with the European Union, which London is a part of and is thereby compelled to uphold its side of the agreement.

He explained for London to move ahead as it threatens it may, officials must go to Brussels and enlist the support of the entire EU, admitting such a reality would deliver a major blow to Israel’s economy, pointing out that, “we are very far from such a reality”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)