Israel Announces Construction of New Jerusalem Neighborhood that Obama Opposed

Netanyahu announced major projects in Jerusalem that would add 4,000 new residential units, including construction of a neighborhood the Obama administration had opposed.

By Benjamin Brown, TPS

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday announced several large-scale building projects in Jerusalem, including in the Givat Hamatos area which the Obama administration had opposed.

Touring the Har Homa neighborhood of Jerusalem together with Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin, Jerusalem’s Mayor Moshe Leon and the Prime Minister’s Office Acting Director-General Ronen Peretz, Netanyahu spoke about the upcoming construction of the new neighborhood.

Ethiopian and Russian immigrants have been living in Givat Hamatos since 1991, which is situated on a main route used by thousands of Israeli motorists daily in Jerusalem.

Having “removed all of the impediments,” Netanyahu vowed to construct 4,000 new residential units of which 1,000 are set to be built in the nearby Arab neighborhood of Beit Safafa.

“The Arab residents have a housing problem for which we are providing a solution,” Netanyahu said, additionally confirming another 3,000 units for Jewish residents.

The Prime Minister also announced the expansion of the Har Homa neighborhood, enlarging it by 12,000 residents and bringing its total population to around 50,000 residents with an additional 2,200 units set to be built.

Netanyahu’s first government established Har Homa in 1997.

He also noted the international objection to construction in the area that Israel has previously encountered.

“We are connecting Jerusalem. We are connecting all parts of the united Jerusalem, the rebuilt Jerusalem. It is a source of great pride and is great news for the entire people of Israel,” Netanyahu concluded.