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Israel Accelerates Three New Settlements in East Jerusalem, NGO Reports
🇨🇱 Chile /Conflict & Security

Israel Accelerates Three New Settlements in East Jerusalem, NGO Reports

From Cooperativa · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • An Israeli NGO reports that Israel is accelerating the development of three new settlements in East Jerusalem.
  • The NGO attributes this move to the upcoming parliamentary elections, suggesting a bid to establish "facts on the ground" before a potential government change.
  • The projects involve constructing new housing units and expanding existing settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.

The Israeli NGO Ir Amim has reported that Israel is rapidly advancing the development of three settlements in East Jerusalem, territory the NGO considers occupied Palestinian land. The organization suggests this acceleration is linked to the impending parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 27, and a potential end to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Three major settlement projects have been developed in East Jerusalem in the last month, including the new settlement in Um Tuba, a new settlement enclave in Um Lison, and a major expansion of Gilo.

— Ir Amim NGOThis quote details the specific settlement projects being accelerated.

Ir Amim stated that three significant settlement projects have progressed in the past month. These include a new settlement in Um Tuba, a new settlement enclave in Um Lison, and a substantial expansion of the Gilo settlement. The NGO expressed concern that the Israeli government might be attempting to create irreversible realities on the ground before potentially leaving office.

The timing of this development raises concerns that the (Israeli) government is seeking to establish facts on the ground before leaving office.

— Ir Amim NGOThis statement explains the NGO's interpretation of the government's motives behind the accelerated settlement activity.

These projects are situated in southern East Jerusalem, the area Israel occupied in 1967 and annexed in 1980. This land lies between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, bordering the West Bank. In Um Tuba, a Palestinian neighborhood, the District Committee approved the construction of 650 housing units on August 7. Notably, Ir Amim pointed out that while Palestinian construction in Um Tuba is typically limited to four stories, this plan permits buildings up to 14 stories.

While Palestinian construction in Um Tuba is generally limited to four stories, the plan allows for buildings up to 14 stories.

— Ir Amim NGOThis highlights a disparity in building regulations, suggesting preferential treatment for the settlement project.

In Um Lison, 450 housing units were approved within this Palestinian area. According to Ir Amim, this marks the first time the Jerusalem Municipality, governed by Israelis, is a formal applicant in a settlement project within a Palestinian neighborhood. The Gilo settlement, already home to approximately 30,000 residents, received approval for an additional 2,300 housing units from the District Committee.

It is the first time that the municipality is a formal party to a settlement project in a Palestinian neighborhood.

— Ir Amim NGOThis points out a significant and potentially unprecedented involvement of the Jerusalem Municipality in settlement expansion.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cooperativa in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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