New Jewish Settlements in East Jerusalem: "Two-State" Solution Is Under Threat

• 11.18.2015, 19:18
•  Near East,  World

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the construction of 454 houses in two settlements in East Jerusalem. According to Reuters  it is about 436 houses in Ramat Shlomo and another 18 in Ramot. Netanyahu announced that Jews have a right to live in any part of Jerusalem. This step threatens the two-state solution of the conflict with the Palestinians, notwithstanding the fact that  several days ago during the meeting with the US President Barack Obama Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to this solution.

In a statement, the Palestinian authority condemned the Israeli plan and settlement-building as a whole calling it "flagrant violation of international law" aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state.

It should be noted that the Palestinians consider East Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state and strongly oppose any attempt to extend Israeli control there. Today some 200,000 Israelis live in 15 settlements in East Jerusalem alongside a Palestinian population of 310,000.

Middle East Eye reminds that Israel announced plans to build 1,600 settler homes in Ramat Shlomo in 2010. The announcement came as US Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Israel, provoking American opposition and souring relations with Washington. The plans were frozen to lower tensions, but in May this year 900 units were re-approved. And now another stage of the construction of 454 homes is announced.

Many countries in the world condemn Israeli settlements, saying the Jewish houses built on territory, Israel captured in 1967, are illegal. The United States and other Western countries also condemn the settlements.

However, Netanyahu continues the settlement policy which became one of the main directions of his politics. Moreover, the Israeli Prime Minister says he does not intend to evacuate the settlers. According to the New York Times  Netanyahu has taken more heat over settlements than his predecessors. .

Spending on settlement activity during Mr. Netanyahu’s current tenure averaged $252 million annually, compared with an average of $243 million in the six previous years. Another study found that the government spent about $950 supporting each West Bank resident in 2014, more than twice the support to  people living in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem; in isolated settlements, it was $1,483 per capita.

These statistics show the consistent Israeli policy that aims at salvaging the Palestinian territories; the policy which will eventually make the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more difficult to achieve.