New Israeli Housing Bids Raise Tensions Before Peace Talks
By ISABEL KERSHNER, NYT
JERUSALEM — Israel published bids on Sunday for the construction of more than 1,000 housing units in contested East Jerusalem and several large West Bank settlements. Hours later, the government announced the names of 26 Palestinian prisoners to be released this week as part of a deal for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks here on Wednesday.
It was a political balancing act that intensified the already charged atmosphere. The settlement move appeared intended to appease the right-wing members of the Israeli government before the release of the 26 prisoners, most of whom have served 20 years or more in prison for deadly attacks against Israelis.
While the planning and building of settlements have continued in the months preceding the talks, causing constant friction, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new governing coalition had so far refrained from issuing construction bids since being formed in March. The publishing of bids is the final bureaucratic stage before new construction can begin.
Uri Ariel, the housing minister from the pro-settlement Jewish Home Party, announced the contentious move while Mr. Netanyahu was recovering in a Jerusalem hospital after surgery for a hernia. The prime minister was discharged later on Sunday.
(More here.)
JERUSALEM — Israel published bids on Sunday for the construction of more than 1,000 housing units in contested East Jerusalem and several large West Bank settlements. Hours later, the government announced the names of 26 Palestinian prisoners to be released this week as part of a deal for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks here on Wednesday.
It was a political balancing act that intensified the already charged atmosphere. The settlement move appeared intended to appease the right-wing members of the Israeli government before the release of the 26 prisoners, most of whom have served 20 years or more in prison for deadly attacks against Israelis.
While the planning and building of settlements have continued in the months preceding the talks, causing constant friction, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new governing coalition had so far refrained from issuing construction bids since being formed in March. The publishing of bids is the final bureaucratic stage before new construction can begin.
Uri Ariel, the housing minister from the pro-settlement Jewish Home Party, announced the contentious move while Mr. Netanyahu was recovering in a Jerusalem hospital after surgery for a hernia. The prime minister was discharged later on Sunday.
(More here.)
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