PMO approves controversial J'lem housing discussion

Hours before Netanyahu's US visit, Interior Ministry committee set to discuss building of over 1,550 housing units in Har Homa, Pisgat Ze'ev.

Construction in Har Homa 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Construction in Har Homa 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The Prime Minister's Office approved a Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday which is set to discuss approving housing construction in the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Har Homa and Pisgat Ze'ev.
Hours before Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's scheduled departure for Washington to meet with US President Barack Obama, the Interior Ministry committee will discuss two large building projects in the Jerusalem neighborhoods, which are located beyond the Green Line. The committee will discuss the building of over 1,550 housing units in total.
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Earlier in May, the Prime Minister’s Office asked that the Interior Ministry remove the housing projects from the agenda of the Interior Ministry committee that approves housing projects.
The move came three weeks after Netanyahu asked the Interior Ministry to postpone discussions about four large projects over the Green Line, covering 942 units in Gilo, 980 units in Har Homa, 625 units in Pisgat Ze’ev and 180 units in Ramot.
“The Prime Minister’s Office asked to remove it from the schedule because of objections raised by the public,” an Interior Ministry spokeswoman said at the time.
Melanie Lidman contributed to this report.