Security expenses for settlers living in Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem went up in the new budget, reaching NIS 3,160 per settler.
By Akiva Eldar
"Despite a clear court ruling requiring the house to be evacuated and sealed, (Jerusalem) Mayor Barkat has no intention of quarreling with those who helped him be elected as mayor--even if this means the systematic trampling of the rule of law."
Following the Ma'ariv op ed is a link to Ha'aretz: "Jerusalem mayor holds off eviction of settlers from East Jerusalem home"
Israeli West Bank settlement construction is booming three months after Israel ended its building freeze, possibly upsetting future peace talks, (Peace Now) said.
An additional 13,000 units have been approved...by contrast, in each of the last three years only 3,000 housing units were built.
See excerpts and links to:
Jewish Week: "Construction Without Consensus"
UPI: "Israeli construction booms in West Bank"
JTA: "Settlement building rises sharply following freeze"
YNET: "Since end of freeze: 13,000 homes approved"
AFP: "Israeli settlers building 100 illegal homes"
Jerusalem Post Frontlines: "Is settlement growth booming?"
Last Sunday I was deeply sorrowed by the fact that only 100 Israelis could take part in the historic meeting that was organized by the Geneva Initiative movement in the mukataa in Ramallah. Had it been up to me, all of Israel's citizens would have gone and seen, with their own eyes, the dramatic change that has taken place in Palestinian society.
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Go HERE to listen to Yariv share his impressions from the meeting.
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Our movement scored a victory today. The front page of today's New York Times features an article which draws strongly on Peace Now's work and research. The headline says it all: "West Bank Settlement Boom Sows New Obstacles to Peace."
By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER
The new House Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman says she is determined to 'show Israel that we are strongly in its corner.'
Included are quotes from APN's Ori Nir, such as: "Thanks to Congress, America's aid program to the Palestinians is probably the most conditioned, restricted and audited aid program in the world."
By ROBERT MACKEY
As my colleague Ethan Bronner reports, Israelis are divided over a West Bank settlement construction boom.
