Angry Israelis should "Death To The Terrorist" near the scene of a terror attack where a Palestinian drove his car into a crowd of people waiting for the light rail on Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem, Israel, October 22, 2014. UPI/Debbie Hill |
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JERUSALEM, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- An expedited plan was announced Monday to build 1,000 new apartments for Jewish residents in east Jerusalem, as Palestinian violence continues to escalate.
The announcement is likely to start international outrage, and comes amid evidence of cracks in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu's coalition government. Right-wing Israeli leaders are eager to see construction for what is internationally regarded as illegal Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, while moderates in the Israeli government have contended the country's isolation would only be deepened by such a move.
The apartments will be built in Ramat Shlomo and Har Homa, in territory Israel annexed from Jordan in 1967, and their construction indicates Israel has no plans to cede the territory to the Palestinian-controlled West Bank.
"We believe such unilateral acts will lead to an explosion," Jibril Rajoub of the Fatah faction of the Palestinian Authority. "Mr. Netanyahu should not expect a white flag from the Palestinian people. Drastic demographic changes in East Jerusalem; this is the most provocative act for us as Palestinians, as Muslims, as Christians, as Arabs."
East Jerusalem, regarded as Palestine's defacto capital, has been the scene this summer of rock-throwing and other incidents of violence after the abduction and killing of a Palestinian teenager, in likely retribution for the deaths of three Israeli teens a month before.
Sunday, Neyanyahu announced a police crackdown, involving 1,000 new officers, against violence in Jerusalem, and Monday said he sought legislation for "harsh punishment" for rock-throwers.
Finance Minister Yair Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party seeks a resumption of talks with the Palestinians, said the timing of Netanyahu's announcements would harm Israel.
"This plan will lead to a serious crisis in Israel-U.S. relations and will harm Israel's standing in the world. We will fight against this."
