Source: http://ift.tt/hFWySe - Friday, January 30, 2015
WASHINGTON -- Political observers to the left of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are calling a release of bids for the construction of new housing units in West Bank settlements an intentional gambit to boost Netanyahu's Likud party ahead of Israeli elections in mid-March. On Friday, Israel published what are known as "tenders" for 450 new homes across four existing settlements in the West Bank. The announcement was the first of its kind since October, leading Netanyahu critics to suggest the move is an attempt to curry favor within the nationalistic settler movement ahead of the elections, which are set for March 17. About 600,000 Israeli civilians now live in settlements in the territories Israel seized from Jordan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Palestinians hope to establish a state in the territories, and much of the international community consider the construction of settlements there a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace. Israel says the status of the settlements must be decided in negotiations. The announcement by the Israeli Housing Ministry, led by pro-settlement Jewish Home party member Uri Ariel, immediately drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority. The U.S. government also criticized the decision : State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the move would further isolate Israel internationally and would "inflame tensions," while White House spokesman Josh Earnest said new settlements wou
from Top News on RSS Feeds http://ift.tt/1Kf17QI
WASHINGTON -- Political observers to the left of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are calling a release of bids for the construction of new housing units in West Bank settlements an intentional gambit to boost Netanyahu's Likud party ahead of Israeli elections in mid-March. On Friday, Israel published what are known as "tenders" for 450 new homes across four existing settlements in the West Bank. The announcement was the first of its kind since October, leading Netanyahu critics to suggest the move is an attempt to curry favor within the nationalistic settler movement ahead of the elections, which are set for March 17. About 600,000 Israeli civilians now live in settlements in the territories Israel seized from Jordan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Palestinians hope to establish a state in the territories, and much of the international community consider the construction of settlements there a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace. Israel says the status of the settlements must be decided in negotiations. The announcement by the Israeli Housing Ministry, led by pro-settlement Jewish Home party member Uri Ariel, immediately drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority. The U.S. government also criticized the decision : State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the move would further isolate Israel internationally and would "inflame tensions," while White House spokesman Josh Earnest said new settlements woufrom Top News on RSS Feeds http://ift.tt/1Kf17QI
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