Israel Matzav

Britain condemns Jerusalem planning committee decision

I wonder how many of you think there's a connection between this post and the post you're about to read below. When you're done, you can let me know.

Britain joined France on Friday to condemn a decision by the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee to approve building plans for Gilo and Silwan.

Jerusalem’s Local Planning and Building Committee passed the first stage of the approval process for three controversial construction projects on Wednesday. One project is for 130 Jewish housing units on the border between Gilo and Beit Safafa, with apartment buildings up to 12 stories. Two of the projects are for tourism buildings in the City of David archaeological park in the Silwan neighborhood.

"I condemn the decision by the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee to build additional structures in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, and housing in the settlement of Gilo," Britain's Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt stated on Friday.

"This is another provocative and deeply counter-productive step, the latest in a series by the Israeli authorities," he added.

Burt's condemnation followed a statement by the French Foreign Ministry on Thursday urging Israel to forgo the construction plans "in order to establish between the parties a climate of trust that is conducive to the resumption of direct negotiations."

Is there any connection between Britain's condemnation (can anyone tell me some other things that Mr. Burt has condemned lately?) of Israel and the sale of Mein Kampf in that country? Is there any other country whose zoning decisions are the subject of international condemnation?

Labels: British anti-Semitism, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:26 AM