With Donald Trump safely in the White House, Israel has resumed building settlements, issuing permits for hundreds of homes in East Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had put a stop to the new settlements over concerns about the response by then-President Obama, who staunchly opposed new construction in the mostly Arab section of Jerusalem. But with Trump — who has signaled an approach that will be much more supportive of Israel than Obama’s — safely in office, Netanyahu apparently decided the coast was now clear.
“I was told to wait until Trump takes office because he has no problem with building in Jerusalem,” said Meir Turgeman, the chairman of the municipality’s Planning and Building committee, according to Reuters. He added there were hundreds more units in the pipeline awaiting approval.
