Minister of Housing (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel released a statement earlier in the week that he plans to actualize Israel’s right to build in the area between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, known more commonly as “E1”.

Israeli planned construction has been met with an outcry from the international community, including Israel’s staunchest allies for actualizing the plan to create land contiguity between Maale Adumim and French Hill would sabotage PA (Palestinian Authority) plans for a highway connecting Yehuda and Shomron in a future Palestinian state.

Recent announcements to resume construction in the area by senior officials in the Israeli administration led to US condemnations as well as EU threats of a boycott to pressure Israel into backing down. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) threatened to address the Israeli move in the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Israel made the announcement to resume E1 construction in a retaliatory move to the PA’s decision to apply for observer nation status in the UN despite Israeli and US objections to the unilateral action. Nevertheless, despite the PA defiance, America is not remaining silent following Israeli declarations of planned construction in the controversial area.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)