A 2nd Housing Project Gets OK for Jerusalem
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JERUSALEM — In a move that could deepen the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, the Jerusalem city government gave the go-ahead Thursday to a plan to build a new Jewish housing project in the middle of an Arab neighborhood.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement from his office, said he was opposed to the plan to build about 65 apartments for Jews in the middle of the Arab neighborhood of Ras al Amud and would work to prevent it from being carried out.
“I can’t believe it. . . . If this [housing project] goes on, it is definitely the destruction of the peace process,” said Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator for the Palestinians.
According to Hagai Elias, spokesman for the city government, Jerusalem cannot prevent the building.
Another East Jerusalem housing project that is in dispute, on a site called Har Homa in Hebrew and Jabal Abu Ghneim in Arabic, brought negotiations with the Palestinians to a halt in March.
Construction of the about 65 units is to take place on 3 1/2 acres bought by Miami millionaire Irving I. Moskowitz, and Elias said Moskowitz was planning to sue the city if his plans were not approved.
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