New Jerusalem Construction Flares Debate

Tensions are rising in East Jerusalem after an Arab landmark was demolished in order to make way for a new Jewish housing project. Palestinians called the destruction of the Shepherd Hotel, which once housed the grand mufti of Jerusalem, a slap in the face and a sign that the Israeli government wants to “pre-empt any solution on Jerusalem” and push them out of the city, according to Saeb Erekat, the chief peace talks negotiator on the Palestinian side. Plans to build the housing project have been in the works for years, and were once derided by Hillary Clinton as a “disturbing development” that “undermines peace efforts.” The project’s approval, though, was just given in March, at the height of tensions between Israel and the Obama administration on East Jerusalem construction.