A massive new construction project in a district of occupied East Jerusalem is about to be authorized, with 1,400 homes planned, Israeli military radio reported Sunday. The homes will be built in the settlement of Gilo, near Bethlehem. It is expected to be given the green light by the district planning commission in the coming days, it added.

City Council member Meir Margalit of the Meretz faction told Ynet the plan constitutes a ""confirmed kill of the peace process. ""Israel's attitude in the beginning of 2011 is worrying. We started the year aggressively with home demolitions, the Shepherd Hotel affair and now this. It seems as though someone in the government thinks (US President Barack) Obama is weak and that now is the time to promote such provocative plans,"" he said. ""I hope this will wake up the Americans.""
About a year ago the regional committee for planning and construction approved a motion to expand Gilo and south Jerusalem and build 900 new housing units in the neighborhood, Ynet said.
The construction project drew heavy criticism from Washington and left-wing organizations.

(Al-Mana