First Building in Chevron in 16 Years

For the first time in 16 years, Chevron is slated for new housing construction, in a plan to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman at the next weekly Cabinet meeting.

“On Sunday, the Cabinet will approve the plan to build 31 housing units in the Hezekiah Quarter of Chevron. The plan, which has already been advanced through various planning stages, also includes kindergartens and public parks,” Liberman proclaimed on his Twitter account Thursday.

The project, comprising 31 homes, was officially approved last October, but the process of obtaining permits was delayed because the site is on a military outpost, requiring Defense Ministry cooperation, besides the usual civil bureaucracy.

MK Stav Shaffir (Zionist Camp) deplored the order of priorities she said was evinced by the proposal: “Instead of security — political impotence.” She accused the defense minister of providing favors to an “extremist minority that is endangering the entire country.

“Netanyahu and Liberman did not eliminate Hamas as they promised. On the contrary. Terror attacks continue, the south is under fire, there is no solution to Gaza and the West Bank,” Ynet quoted her as saying.

Peace Now didn’t like it either. It has filed a petition with the Civil Administration to stop the planned construction, according to Arutz Sheva.

The Chevron project is but one of a range of building projects in various stages of development in Yehudah and Shomron since the Civil Administration’s planning committee approved the construction of 984 apartments in the region several weeks ago.

The units that received final approval include: 56 in Barkan, eight in Avnei Hefetz, 168 in Nofim, 108 in Tzofim and 44 in Maale Adumim. Other units are located in Kiryat Netafim, Otniel and Bet El.