Slippery Slope

Even though according to the Oslo accords Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority full administrative responsibility over area A and civil administration of area B, the IDF is preventing construction and development in 4,700 dunams of these areas citing security reasons. Furthermore, seizure orders were issued for approximately 1,870 additional dunams in these areas for use in paving roads related to construction of the separation fence. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Despite an approval in principle received by the director of Mizra psychiatric hospital, Prof. Ilana Kramer, from the Acco municipal engineer, to construct a hardened building in the hospital, the city of Acco refused to approve construction.

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

A report prepared by “Peace Now” determines that in 2012 developers started construction of 1,400 new housing units, and 6,000 new housing units were approved by the government. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Ynet)

The Ministry of Defense has approved the construction of 523 housing units in the settlement settlement of Gva’ot, located in the West Bank’s Gush Etzion region. (Ynetnews)

(Hebrew – Walla!)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) has decided to approve the construction of approximately 3,000 housing units in East Jerusalem and West Bank settlements, including in area E1, which connects Jerusalem with the settlement Ma’aleh Adumim. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Germany decided to abstain from a UN General Assembly vote on the acceptance of Palestine as an observer state.  According to a senior German diplomat said that the reason for not opposing the move is that the “Israelis did not respond in any way to our request for positive gestures toward the Palestinians, specifically in relation to construction in settlements.” (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Israel Land Administration published a series of tenders for the construction of housing units in the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Pisgat Ze’ev and Ramot. (Yahoo!)

(Hebrew – Ynet)

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud), speaking on the one year anniversary of the murder of the Fogel family, called to accelerate Jewish construction on the West Bank.

Slogans against the employment of Arab laborers were spray-painted on the walls of a construction site in Haifa.  In addition, “Price Tag” slogans were spray-painted on the vehicle of an Arab contractor who works in the city.

(Hebrew)

The civil administration’s zoning committee has rejected a government proposal to legalize the outpost of Sansana in the south Hebron hills, saying there is no justification for a new settlement in the area because it is possible to build within existing ones.