Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday his intent to push ahead with a plan to build 3,500 homes for settlers in the E-1 area of Judea and Samaria that would effectively connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem.
“I have given instructions to immediately publish for deposit the plan to build 3,500 housing units in E-1,” said Netanyahu, using an administrative term for the first phase of the planning process, according to Reuters. The move comes less than a week before Israel’s March 2 general elections.
“This had been delayed for six-and-a-half years,” said Netanyahu, referring to the freezing of the project following international criticism claiming that the new housing would cut off Palestinians from Jerusalem and harm a prospective Palestinian state.
Pundits say Netanyahu seeks to gain support from right-wing supporters and settlers for the upcoming election.