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<h1 class="article-title"><small>2012 Witnessed High Increase In
Settlement Activities</small></h1>
<div class="article-subtitledetails">
<span class="article-details"><span class="article-detail"><img
class="icon" src="cid:part1.08030109.07020003@freedomarchives.org"
alt="author"> Thursday January 03, 2013 11:48</span><span
class="article-detail"><img class="icon"
src="cid:part2.02090407.07080003@freedomarchives.org" alt="author"> by
Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies</span></span> <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.imemc.org/article/64816">http://www.imemc.org/article/64816</a><br>
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The Israeli government approved in 2012 tenders for the construction of
2386 settlements in occupied Jerusalem, compared to 772 units approved
in 2011 and 256 in 2010, Israeli human rights group Ir Amim reported.
<p class="article">Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported that there are
clear indications that the government of Prime Minister, Benjamin
Netanyahu, intends to construct the new homes for Jewish settlers,
especially since the Israel’s Regional Construction and Planning
Committee approved all new decisions to construct these units. <br>
<br>
Ir Amin said that the Israeli government approved in 2012 the future
construction of 6932 units for settlers, while 1772 units were approved
in 2011 and 569 in 2010.<br>
<br>
Most of the approved constructions are for the expansion of the illegal
settlements of Gilo, Har Homa (Jabal Abu Ghneim), and Givat Hamatos,
south of occupied Jerusalem, in addition to Ramat Shlomo and Pisgat
Ze’ev, north of the occupied city.<br>
<br>
The statistics excluded construction plans for thousands of units in
the so-called E1 area, between Maale Adumim settlement block and
occupied East Jerusalem. <br>
<br>
The report also stated that in 2008, the Israeli government that was
headed by Ehud Olmert, and following the failure of the Annapolis peace
summit, issued tenders for the construction of 1931 units, while 1021
units were approved in 2009. <br>
<br>
Haaretz said that the American “pressure on Israel” regarding its
settlement activities increased after Israel announced the construction
of 1600 units in Ramat Shlomo illegal settlement while U.S. Vice
President, Joe Biden, was visiting the area holding talks with
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister,
Benjamin Netanyahu, trying to convince them to resume direct peace
talks. <br>
<br>
Israel then made use of the fact that the United States was engaged in
election campaigns last year, and stepped-up its illegal settlement
activities. <br>
<br>
Haaretz said that despite the fact that Israel claims that most of its
settlement tenders and approvals made in 2012 came to punish the Abbas
for heading to the UN, the simple fact is that such activities require
time and lengthy legal measures.<br>
<br>
It is worth mentioning that the Jerusalem City Council approved,
Wednesday, the construction of six hotels (1000 rooms) in Givat
Hamatos, south of occupied Jerusalem. <br>
<br>
Yehudit Oppenheimer, Executive Director of Ir Amim, told Haaretz that
what is happening is an attempt to change the structure and geography
of Jerusalem without even presenting the issue to the Israeli public. <br>
<br>
Oppenheimer added that what Israel is trying to achieve a “greater
Jerusalem” that includes the settlement blocs of Maale Adumim, Gush
Ezion, while imprisoning large Palestinian communities, suffocated by
settlements. </p>
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