Israel approves building of 1600 housing units

Israeli Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, Thursday gave final authorization to build 1600 housing units in Ramat Shlomo settlement in East Jerusalem, in order to help solve the current high rent and housing crisis in Israel. Yishai is due to approve another 2700 housing units in Givat Zeev and Tel al-Ta'era settlements in East Jerusalem within the next few days. According to Israeli sources, such quick measures in issuing building permits are in line with the new Israeli Construction Law that reduces bureaucracy to a minimum among construction and building committees. Yishai has already approved 930 housing units in Abu Ghneim mountain between Jerusalem and Bethlehem; the construction is scheduled to begin soon. In July, dozens of Israelis moved out of their homes to live in the streets and start what is known as the tent city in Tel Aviv, protesting high rent and housing prices. The protests spread across several Israeli cities. In response, Israeli Knesset members and politicians called for solving the crisis by building and expanding settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.