Netanyahu Plans East Jerusalem Settler Homes Ahead of Israel Poll
February 20, 2020, 3:22 pm

Netanyahu Plans East Jerusalem Settler Homes Ahead of Israel Poll

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed a project on Thursday to build thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in annexed east Jerusalem.

The plan which was condemned by the Palestinians as another blow to their hopes for an independent state comes less than two weeks before Israeli general election.

"I have huge news today -- we're adding another 2,200 units to Har Homa," Netanyahu said in a video message posted by his office.

Israel’s settlements are illegal under international law but the US now dispute this. With almost 3 million Palestinians, there are almost 600,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank.

Netanyahu also announced approval to build a new settlement with several thousands homes in Givat Hamatos, next to the mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Safafa, AFP reported.

For its part, Watchdog Peace Now said that Netanyahu, who is currently leading a caretaker government after two elections failed to produce clear winner, lacked the mandate to approve the contentious projects.

"Such a change of policy can't happen in a transitional government without a mandate from the public," it said.

For his part, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for PA President Mahmoud Abbas said after the Israeli leader’s announcement: “Netanyahu’s insistence on building thousands of settlement units is the systematic destruction of the two-state solution and the implementation of the Trump plan.”

According to Reuters, the construction of 2,610 housing units for Jews in Givat Hamatos was approved by a Jerusalem planning committee in 2014.However, the Israeli government effectively put the project on hold after the US and the European Union criticized the plan.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”