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Analysis

BICOM Briefing: Housing in Gilo

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Key Points

  • On 17 November a regional planning committee approved the construction of 900 apartments in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Gilo.
  • Gilo is a Jewish neighbourhood in the south of Jerusalem, over the Green Line.
  • It is anticipated by previous peace proposals, such as the Geneva Accords, that Gilo will remain part of Israel in a final status agreement, even if the city is shared. It is a consensus view in Israel that Gilo should stay part of Israel.

Recent developments

  • On Tuesday 17 November a district planning committee approved a plan for 900 new apartments in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Gilo.
  • The area in question is a Jewish neighbourhood in the south of Jerusalem, built over the Green Line after 1967. It is anticipated by previous peace proposals, such as the Clinton parameters and the Geneva Accords, that Gilo, along with other Jewish neighbourhoods in Jerusalem, will remain part of Israel if the city is shared.
  • The announcement has been criticised by President Obama, the British government and Ban Ki-moon.
  • After discussing the issue yesterday at a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, said: ‘I understood that this was not a policy decision, and therefore it should not be an obstacle to returning to negotiations.’

Further reading

  • BICOM FAQ’s including sections on the history and significance of Jerusalem for Jews, Christians and Muslims.
  • BICOM Q and A on settlements.
  • Geneva Accords map of Jerusalem showing proposed final status border.