Israel advances plans in sensitive east Jerusalem settlement A settlement watchdog group says Israel is moving ahead with the construction of hundreds of homes in a strategic Jerusalem settlement that threatens to cut off Palestinian-claimed parts of the city from the West BankJERUSALEM -- A settlement watchdog group said Sunday Israel is moving ahead with new construction of hundreds of homes in a strategic east Jerusalem settlement that threatens to cut off parts of the city claimed by Palestinians from the West Bank. The group, Peace Now, said the Israel Land Authority announced on its website Sunday that it had opened up tenders for more than 1,200 new homes in the key settlement of Givat Hamatos in east Jerusalem. Israel has previously moved forward on plans to build in E1, another sensitive area east of Jerusalem that critics say, with Givat Hamatos, would block east Jerusalem off entirely from the West Bank. Under previous administrations, Israel held back on building plans in the most sensitive areas, including Givat Hamatos, amid opposition by both Washington and the international community, which saw such plans as dashing hopes for a contiguous Palestinian state. But Israel has been emboldened under Trump, approving thousands of new settlement homes during his term, including in highly contested areas.

Source: ABC News November 15, 2020 10:10 UTC