Minister of Housing and Construction Ariel Atias (Shas): There is a de facto
construction freeze
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 28 June 2009

Minister of Housing and Construction Ariel Atias (Shas) told Israel Radio in
a live interview broadcast in the noon news magazine that DM Ehud Barak has
not signed any paperwork for new construction in Judea and Samaria since the
formation of the Netanyahu Government.

Arias explained that all construction in Judea and Samaria requires the
approval of the Minister of Defense so the absence of Bark's signature means
that, de facto, that there has been a complete freeze on new construction in
effect in Judea and Samaria since the forming of the Netanyahu Government.

Atias said that he was not aware of former PM Olmert's Newsweek interview in
which he said that, in complete violation of promises to Shas not to
negotiate Jerusalem at that time, he had offered to internationalize part of
Jerusalem. Atias said, however, that he is not surprised to learn that
Olmert may have said things to various Palestinians but that this did not
mean that such initiatives could not have been blocked by Shas within the
Government if they had progressed.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il