By AFP – Jan 26,2017 – JORDAN TIMES
A picture taken on Thursday shows new apartments under construction in the Israeli settlement of Har Homa (foreground-left) situated in East Jerusalem, in front of the West Bank city of Bethlehem (background-right) (AFP photo)
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israeli officials gave final approval Thursday to 153 East Jerusalem settler housing units, the deputy mayor said, adding to a sharp increase in such projects since US President Donald Trump took office.
Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman told AFP the approvals by a city planning committee were among those held up due to pressure from former US president Barack Obama’s administration.
Turgeman said developers “could start building from tomorrow”.
Following Trump’s inauguration, Turgeman spoke of plans for some 11,000 settler units in process for occupied East Jerusalem.
“I’m going to deliver permits for thousands of homes in Jerusalem in the coming months,” Turgeman said.
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Categories: Israel, The Muslim Times