Israel to okay E. Jerusalem settlements after Trump win

By Anees Barghouthi

JERUSALEM

Israeli authorities will approve construction of thousands of new Jewish-only settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem following U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's surprise electoral victory this week, Israeli official said Friday.

Meir Turgeman, head of the Jerusalem municipality’s construction committee, told Israeli Radio that he planned to resume construction of thousands of East Jerusalem settlement units that had been frozen earlier due to pressure from the Obama administration.

"Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election is a green light for Israel to approve [settlement] construction in the capital," Turgeman, who also serves as deputy mayor of Israel's Jerusalem municipality, said in reference to Jerusalem.

"Some 3,000 settlement units are awaiting approval in Gilo; 2,600 units in Givat Hamatos; and 1,500 units in Givat Shlomo," he added.

Turgeman went on to assert that these projects had been frozen for the last two years by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat due "international pressure".

"We hope we are heading for a fresh start now," he said.

On Thursday, Jason Greenblatt, one of Trump’s close advisers, told Israeli army radio that the president-elect did not view Israeli settlement-building as an obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.