Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday his intent to push ahead with a plan to build 3,500 homes for those living in the E1 area of Judea and Samaria, which would effectively connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem.
“I have given instructions to immediately publish for deposit the plan to build 3,500 housing units in E1,” said Netanyahu, using an administrative term for the first phase of the planning process, according to Reuters. The move comes less than a week before Israel’s March 2 general elections.
“This had been delayed for six-and-a-half years,” said Netanyahu, referring to the freezing of the project following international criticism claiming that the new housing would cut off Palestinians from Jerusalem and harm a prospective Palestinian state.
Pundits say Netanyahu seeks to gain support from right-wing supporters and settlers for the upcoming election.
