The Ministry of Housing on erev Shabbos Parshas Beshalach 5774 announced tenders for the construction of 600 housing units in Ramat Shlomo in Yerushalayim and an additional 800 units throughout Yehuda and Shomron, of which 102 will be built in Emanuel and 24 in Betar Illit.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu waited a week following the release of 26 Arab terrorists from prison to announce the next wave of construction in areas viewed as “Israeli occupied” by the United States and the international community. The tenders announced on erev Shabbos point to significant construction in chareidi communities, as Housing Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel promised he would do.

In addition to the chareidi areas, housing units will be constructed in Efrat (227), Alfei Menashe (78), Karnei Shomron (86), Ariel (40), Adam (75), and Elkana (169). To the surprise of some, the building is not only earmarked for so-called “settlement blocs” but in areas that many believe Israel will give to the PA (Palestinian Authority) chas v’sholom in a final status agreement.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)