Israel moves to approve first major new settlement in occupied Jerusalem since 1990s

The Israeli government is advancing plans to establish a large new settlement for ultra-Orthodox Jews in north occupied Jerusalem, in an area previously used as an airport between Beit Hanina and Kafr Aqab. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the proposal will be submitted on Wednesday to the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee for renewed approval. The plan includes the construction of approximately 9,000 housing units in a settlement to be named Akerot. Preparations for the project began several years ago but were repeatedly frozen, most notably following pressure from the administration of former US president Barack Obama. In 2021, the District Committee halted the plan again, pending the completion of an environmental impact assessment. The freeze followed objections […]