Housing Minister David Levy has proposed the large-scale confiscation of Arab-owned land in East Jerusalem for the construction of some 10,000 new housing units for Jews on the eastern borders of the city. Levy raised the matter at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting but was told to refer it to the special expropriations committee headed by Finance Minister Yigal Hurwitz. The committee is empowered under the law to make the operative decisions on such proposals.
Levy said the new housing project should be built between the existing French Hill and Neve Yaacov neighborhoods which are presently separated by Arab villages. It would create a” Jewish territorial continuum” around the northern and eastern fringes of the city, the Housing Minister said.
Levy claimed last week that Arabs were trying to “establish facts” in the area by gradually building private homes to prevent any Jewish building. He said that there were still only a few Arab houses in the area and that these would not be disturbed by his project.
Levy’s plan received a cool reception from Jerusalem officials. A spokesman for the municipality said it should have been implemented years ago but now the political implications are much more serious. He added that existing neighborhoods in East Jerusalem are still suffering from “growing pairs” and should be given priority over new projects.
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