Interior Minister: Israel will never freeze construction in Jerusalem

[Jefferson23]

* I still don't see a date listed, just "expediting procedures for planning and construction"..wonder how long that will take, LOL


Yishai tells Shas daily that he has clarified this stance to the U.S., and plans to expedite construction in the capital.

Interior Minister Eli Yishai declared Thursday that Israel had not agreed to freeze construction in East Jerusalem, adding that American demands to do so would never be met.

"There is not and never has been a freeze on construction in Jerusalem, nor will there ever be," said Yishai, whose approval of a 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem during U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit in March sparked tension in U.S.-Israeli ties.

Yishai, who heads the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, told his faction's newspaper that the issue would not be raised during upcoming visits by senior American officials.

The Interior Minister said that he intended to expedite procedures for planning and construction across Israel, but particularly in Jerusalem. Residents of the capital were suffering a serious housing crisis, Yishai told the newspaper, forcing many to leave the city.

"We will build everywhere in the capital of the Jewish nation's everlasting homeland, and I have clarified this to our American counterparts and friends," said Yishai.

He added that he had instructed the Jerusalem Building and Planning Council to convene after several delayed sessions to discuss renewing construction in the Arab area of Shoafat.

Yishai's comments came just a day after the U.S. State Department warned both Palestinians and Israelis to avoid taking inflammatory actions in Jerusalem.

"As we have said, if either side takes significant actions during the proximity talks that we judge would seriously undermine trust, we will respond to hold them accountable and ensure that negotiations continue," said a State Department representative.

remainder: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/interior-minister-israel-will-never-freeze-construction-in-jerusalem-1.290154

[ixion]

1. And people wonder why I think that Israel is a rogue state

what ever could have given me that idea? :sarcasm:

[dionysus]

2. were them being total assholes about this your first clue?

;)

[Jefferson23]

3. Obama offered Netanyahu a gentlemen's agreement on Jerusalem

*snip When on Wednesday a senior U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal that Netanyahu had unequivocally rejected U.S. demands for a freeze in East Jerusalem, he conveniently provided the prime minister with a thick smokescreen to hide behind.

The alacrity with which the government confirmed such a 'damaging' report attests this - and we can now presume the crisis is over. As long as Jews aren't building in Sheikh Jarrakh or Ramat Shlomo, America couldn't care less was Israel says or doesn't say over a Jerusalem construction freeze.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1164679.html


We'll see, so far, this is for show on the part of Israel.

[Pirate Smile]

4. Nothing good can happen as long as Bibi's coalition depends on the RW loons

he formed his government with last year.

Is there any chance Likud and Kadima will form a rational government instead of having these far RW guys actually heading these important areas of the government?

[Chulanowa]

5. I get the impression that Israel's left looks a lot like our teabaggers

I admit I'm not that keyed in on Israeli politics, except that it's kind of like Italian politics on meth.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. There are so many comments in media right now its hard to know which is the latest

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=175559 would lead one to believe they have been halted. :shrug:

[tcaudilllg]

7. Idiots.

Have fun killing over your false religions!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. The vast majority of Israelis are secular

[Jefferson23]

10. Poll: Less than half of Israeli Jews define themselves as secular

According to Central Bureau of Statistics survey, 88 percent of Israeli Jews, 82 percent of Israeli Arabs are satisfied with their lives.
By Haaretz Service Less than half of Israeli Jews - 42 percent - define themselves as secular, according to a survey released Sunday by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Some 25 percent of respondents characterized themselves as traditional, but not very religious. Another 13 percent said they were traditionally religious, 12 percent called themselves religious and 8 percent identified themselves as Haredi or ultra-Orthodox.

In the Arab sector, 8 percent defined themselves as very religious, 42 percent as religious, 27 percent as not very religious and 18 percent as non-religious. Arab women were more likely to identify themselves as religious than Arab men – 55 percent of women compared to 38 percent of men.

The survey also found that 88 percent of Israeli Jews and 82 percent of Israeli Arabs said they were satisfied with their lives.

According to the survey, more than half (52 percent) of Haredi men age 25 to 54 are employed, compared to 93 percent of secular men. The employment rate for Haredi women is 61 percent. 88 percent of secular women are employed, compared to 80 percent in the traditional sector and 83 percent in the religious sector.

68 percent of the Israeli Jews use the internet, compared to 35 percent of the Israeli Arab population.

The survey data was compiled based on 7,500 interviews conducted in December and January with Israelis aged 20 and older from the various sectors of society.


http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/poll-less-than-half-of-israeli-jews-define-themselves-as-secular-1.290686

[shira]

11. that's a bit misleading

If 42 percent are secular and 25 percent are traditional but not very religious, then it's more accurate to say 67 percent are secular and not very religious.

You can't just lump 25% traditional and non-religious with the rest who actually are religious.

[Jefferson23]

12. In your world "traditional" equates to secular, ok.

[shira]

13. And in your world, "not very religious" equates to "religious".

You probably think most Reform and Conservative Jews are religious and not secular, right?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

15. Well, yes, it does equate to that. both semantically and in this case in practice.

Semantically, "not very religious" means "slightly religious", which is a subset of "religious" and is not a subset of "not religious".

And in practice, one of the last bits of religion that an awful lot of "not very religious" Jews tend to believe in is the idea that they have a "spiritual connection" with Israel.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. There are a great many Jews who are a lot like Xmass/Easter Xtians

They do the holidays but that is about it. Its more tradition and family than religious faith

[shira]

16. Yes, they're more secular than they are religious

And oddly enough, those arguing that Reform Jews are "religious" are the same knuckleheads who would argue Fatah and the PA are "secular".

:eyes:

[Jefferson23]

17. The poll is reflective of Israeli Jews, and I'm well aware of tradition

vs degrees within which Jews may hold and keep their faith.

The poll is a sample of approx. 7000, certainly this is not the definitive conclusion, yet, it should give pause to the
claim that Israeli Jews are vastly secular.

[shira]

18. You believe the PA to be secular, don't you?

[Eg-ptiangirl]

21. Pals are occupied

They are damaged and it is normal that they use extremity as a last shelter. It is another story for Israelis to use Torah to occupy and destroy homes.
I know a country that gone mad after few terrorists destroyed 2 buildings, they occupied 2 countries and killed thousands of innocents. At least those people should understand Pals feelings.

[Toilet]

8. Jerusalem is

Israel's Capital city. Why should they halt it?

[delad]

19. you utter nimrod

is that supposed to be an argument?

[Eg-ptiangirl]

20. No, east Jerusalem is an occupied city

Isrealis are occupying it.

[proteus_lives]

22. After the Palestinians and Jordanians wouldn't stop attacking them from it.

I guess if they didn't want to lose it, they shouldn't launched repeated attacks from EJ.