“Strengthening and expanding Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria is a necessary and very important aspect in the vision of the Zionist enterprise,” said Minister Zeev Elkin.
By Aryeh Savir, TPS
The Israeli government announced on Sunday the marketing tenders for 1,355 housing units in Judea and Samaria through the Israel Land Authority and under the direction of Minister of Construction and Housing Zeev Elkin.
The tenders include 729 units in the city of Ariel in Samaria, 346 units in Beit El, 102 units in Elkana, 96 in Geva Binyamin, 57 in Emanuel, 22 in Karnei Shomron, and one in Beitar Illit, totaling at 1,355.
The units in Beit El will be built on the grounds of an old IDF base. They were approved by the previous government, and after overcoming various obstacles, the tender was announced Sunday.
Elkin said that “strengthening and expanding Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria is a necessary and very important aspect in the vision of the Zionist enterprise.”
“After a long period of stagnation in construction in Judea and Samaria, I welcome the marketing of over 1,000 housing units. I will continue to maintain Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria,” he declared.
Left-wing members of the diverse government coalition were unhappy with the announcement.
Member of Knesset Mossi Raz of Meretz tweeted that “Elkin announced the marketing of more than 1,300 housing units in settlements in the ‘Occupied Territories,'” claiming that the government “is harming Israel.”
Simultaneously, the government is slated to approve some 30 construction plans in Judea and Samaria with 3,144 units for Israelis and six plans with 1,303 units for Arabs.
The Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration (HPC) will convene on Wednesday regarding the units for Israelis and on Monday to approve the units for Arabs in Area C, under full Israeli control.