Jerusalem planning committee to hold first meet since Biden's visit

The Jerusalem District Planning and Construction Committee will convene next week, marking the first time such meeting will take place since the diplomatic crisis with the United States erupted following the announcement of Jerusalem building plans during U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel.

After the Interior Ministry announced the building of 1,600 new housing units in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in East Jerusalem last month, which sparked an uproar in the international arena, the Prime Minister ordered the planning and construction committee to halt all deliberations in order to prevent future mishaps.

At this moment, two meetings are scheduled for the Jerusalem District Planning and Construction Committee. The first meeting, which will take place on Tuesday, will deal with bigger plans and not with building plans for East Jerusalem. During the second meeting, on Thursday, the committee will discuss plans for a small number of housing units in the eastern part of the city, although it is yet unknown whether the plans are meant for Arabs or Jews.


According to Jerusalem architects and contractors, the fear of the diplomatic crisis with the United States caused the system to act "hysterically," and even plans with no potential to cause national harm were postponed.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat told Haaretz that construction in East Jerusalem will continue, despite U.S. pressure for a building freeze.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1165971.html