«Israeli» Settlement Construction Upsurge by Trump’s Ascent to Power

Local Editor

Following Donald Trump's ascent to power, several significant plans for building beyond the "Green Line", in and near al-Quds [Jerusalem], are ready to be implemented soon, a paper prepared by the "Israeli" "Ir Amim" NGO said.

According to the NGO, the plans could create irrevocable facts on the ground and effectively eliminate any options for the so-called "two-state" solution or for retaining Palestinian continuity between the city and the occupied West Bank.

The document prepared by the NGO showed nine plans for unit construction in various illegal "Israeli" settlements.

In the past year right wing ministers and al-Quds Mayor Nir Barkat had urged the "Israeli" prime minister to advance construction for Jews on "Givat Hamatos". But the Americans insisted against it.

"If Netanyahu wants to show that he is no longer restricted by the Americans, he'll issue the construction bids for Givat Hamatos," said Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher for the NGO.

The plan for E-1, east of al-Quds, is expected more than any other to effect a dramatic geopolitical change. It calls for building 3,700 units and 2,100 hotel rooms on an expansive desert area. Infrastructure work was carried out years ago, preparing roads, squares and electricity poles.

In December 2012, following the UN's General Assembly's declaration upgrading Palestine to observer status, the so-called "Civil Administration" approved two plans for a total of 3,426 settlement units. But advancing them would require the evacuation of several hundred Bedouins residing in the area and opening the "apartheid road" - a road built years ago with a separation wall in the middle to enable Palestinian cars to travel on it without taking the highway linking al-Quds and "Ma'aleh Adumin".

The Trump administration is also expected to open the way for settler organizations "Elad", "Ateret Cohanim" and others to settle more Jews in Palestinian neighborhoods in al-Quds.

The al-Quds municipality had a plan to build a neighborhood of 230 units for Jews in this area, which was later suspended. In the meantime several "Israeli" families settle there under heavy security.

The number of "Israeli" families living in Silwan had increased considerably in the past two years. Most of them had moved into units bought by the Elad NGO or seized by Ateret Cohanim, citing Jews' so-called "historic rights". Removing the political restrictions would accelerate development plans for the area.

"In the Obama days we advanced a number of plans in Arab neighborhoods without anyone knowing they were for Jews," said al-Quds council member Arye King. "Soon we'll expose them in Beit Hanina, Beit Zafafa and other places.
There's a feeling that today things can be moved forward."

Most left wing and international organizations, like "Ir Amim", are convinced that the construction plans would create an irrevocable situation.

Source: Haaretz, Edited by website team