Israel has issued tenders for additional 1,213 homes in areas of Jerusalem restored to the country after the Six-Day War, according to the anti-nationalist Peace Now organization, quoted by AFP.

Maaleh Zeitim area in eastern Jerusalem
Israel News Photo: JCDF

The report was based on Peace Now’s citing tenders published by the Israeli Housing Ministry, for 607 units in the northern Jerusalem area of Pisgat Ze’ev and 606 units in Ramot, located near the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway.

A tender also was reportedly re-offered for 72 units in the city of Ariel, located in central Samaria, approximately 15 miles from metropolitan Tel Aviv.

Peace Now described the new tenders as an obstacle in the face of what it sees as Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ authentic declarations on peace negotiations.

“Abbas declared again his strong commitment to the two-state solution, and Netanyahu replied with thousands of new units in settlements,” Peace Now said. “It seems that Netanyahu is afraid of the new administration that is being elected today in the U.S., and he has chosen the day of election to publish the tenders so that there will be the least public attention to his action.”

Abbas’ entire statements included a demand that Israel allow the immigration of several million foreign Arabs, a day after he told Israeli media that he personally would not insist on living in Tzfat, the northern Israeli city where he was born.

Abbas also continued to insist that talks with Israel take place on condition that Israel does not build more homes for Jews in areas that the Palestinian Authority wants for a future state.

Abbas in reality has redefined “negotiations” to mean a time in which when Israel will accept all of Abbas’ political and territorial demands.

View original Arutz Sheva publication at: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/161762#.UJjNf4avPuY