The Jerusalem Municipality has approved the construction of 1,900 new housing units in the Arab neighborhood of Issawiya, in eastern Jerusalem. Left-wing politicians and activists often claim that Jerusalem-area Arabs are never given permits to build and expand their towns.



Currently, the northern neighborhood is home to 12,000 residents. The new apartments will be built on an area measuring 1,580 dunams.



According to Vice-Premier Chaim Ramon's plan for the division of the capital, Issawiya would become part of a Palestinian state.