LEFT-WING ISRAELI group Peace Now claimed yesterday that the country’s housing ministry has plans to build more than 73,000 new homes in West Bank Jewish settlements, ahead of the arrival of Hillary Clinton on her first visit as US secretary of state.
The figures, taken from a government website, showed that 15,000 units have already been approved for construction, with approval pending for a further 58,000 new homes.
The incoming Israeli government, led by the leader of the right-wing Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to step up construction in the 125 settlements, home to more than 280,000 Israelis.
Some of the smaller right-wing parties, which are expected to join the coalition, have pressed for an end to the current policy which restricts settlement construction to the rather vague definition of “natural growth”. They also want dozens of unauthorised hilltop outposts established in recent years to be declared official settlements.
Yaakov Katz, the leader of National Union, one of the expected coalition members, welcomed the Peace Now revelations. “I expect that, with God’s help, this will all happen in the next few years, and there will be one state here.” According to Peace Now the number of settlers would double if all the housing units are built.
The planned construction includes 19,000 units west of Israel’s security barrier in the area earmarked as the future Palestinian state, and 5,722 homes in east Jerusalem, claimed by Palestinians as the capital of such a state.
Mr Netanyahu opposes the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and Peace Now warned that the incoming government will “expand settlement growth at a rapid pace . . . with the clear intention of destroying the possibility of a two-state solution”.
Responding to the report, a housing ministry official accused Peace Now of “making a big deal out of nothing”, stressing that implementation of the plans still required government approval.
Today US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian Authority leaders. Settlements are likely to feature prominently in the discussions.
The Palestinian leadership has already warned that peace talks with the new Israeli government will be jeopardised if settlement construction is not frozen.
US pressure on Israel concerning Jewish construction in the West Bank is expected at some stage, although with Mr Netanyahu still trying to cobble together a coalition, Mrs Clinton may consider such a move premature at this juncture.