Israeli authorities has approved building permits for 566 settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem. The city’s deputy mayor, Meir Turjeman said, the plans had been postponed until US President Donald Trump took office.
Meir Turjeman told news agency that city officials approved the plans that had been previously postponed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request in the wake of a UN Security Council resolution in December against Israeli settlement building. Turjeman said, plans for some 11,000 other homes were also in process in east Jerusalem, though he did not say when they could be moved forward.
According to Turjeman, the new permits are for homes in the settlement neighbourhoods of Pisgat Zeev, Ramot and Ramat Shlomo, who also heads the planning committee that approved them.” He said, the rules of the game have changed with Donald Trump’s arrival as president.
Trump has pledged strong support for Israel and vowed during his campaign to recognise Jerusalem as the country’s capital despite the city’s contested status.