While Palestinian Arabs are out for blood, press releases announcing new housing on the disputed West Bank territory have been issued every few weeks since the end of the Gaza war. Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations told JLBC, “It’s not new! In most cases these are zoning decisions, not new developments that they’re talking about.”

This contention is backed by Pepe Alalu, a member of the Jerusalem municipality’s planning and housing committee. He told Reuters that all the building plans have been in the works for years and no new building permits had been issued. Yet as Hoenlein indicated, any released information about the next stage in housing released by low level people is always considered new whether they are or not.

Asked for his analysis of these events, Hoenlein told JLBC. “I just hope people will wait for the facts. Obviously this is a time of some tension between the U.S. and Israel…despite what is being reported the relationship is too important…I hope that the tensions unrelated to the housing issue will be resolved.”

As to the building issue, Hoenlein said that all of the areas where housing is planned is, by consensus, Israeli territory and will remain in Israel. He said a better job must be done of explaining what this housing is, so that people will realize that Israel is not looking to take over additional territory. “These are areas that would remain with Israel,” he said.

JLBC asked, “With tensions so high and the escalation of violence, wouldn’t any news of additional building–whether it be of past plans or future expansions–cause fury and condemnation?”

Hoenlein said, “There’s a lot of incitement going on and deliberate misrepresentation about what is happening. We see the incitement on the Temple Mount, with Abbas himself saying the Jews should have no right to go on there, that they have no history there.”

Much of this distracts from what Hoenlein said are the important issues, “Iran, ISIS, the UN, threats by Abbas and the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) anti-Semitism. There are so many issues that everybody will censure what they do and what they say.”

As to thinking things through and watching what they say, Netanyahu’s declarations don’t seem to be censured. Hoenlein said that Netanyahu is one who values the U.S. Israeli relationship. “There are few people who know it better. Yes, there have been tensions and issues that have arisen from both sides and everyone is careful of what they say and how they say it.

“The fundamental interests today of the United States and Israel have so much in common, they are vital partners in so many areas, that we can’t afford and should not have petty differences come up and detract from the overwhelming significant issues that have to be addressed and are being addressed.”

Older American Jews remember a time of Holocaust, pogroms and expulsions when there was no Israel and will put all their efforts into supporting the Jewish homeland. However, younger American Jews don’t necessarily have those emotional and historical connections and may be looking at the present situation without historical context–so they might not maintain good will towards Israel. What does he think about that?

Hoenlein told JLBC that this is not the case. “There is a lot of good will left among young American Jews. I think ignorance is a bigger problem.”

An even bigger problem is Abbas, said Hoenlein, “I think he’s been very destructive…He has made it clear that he has no intention of really negotiating in a serious way with Israel.” Abbas has made threats to bring charges up to the U.N. Security Council as well as charge Israel with war crimes.

Hoenlein said if everyone would sit down at the table and discuss what is really happening it would resolve a lot of the issues. Netanyahu has repeatedly said that he’s prepared. He’s the one who repeatedly accepted the peace agreements. He’s made offers to the Palestinians which they have by and large rejected. I think it’s clear to all the sides that right now, Israel is not the obstacle.”

What triggered this latest round of acrimony, which including snubbing Israel’s defense minister while he was in Washington, was the announcement of a tender for 1000 apartments in the West Bank and East Jerusalem on land considered to be Israel’s the Israelis and by Palestinian Arabs as part of their longed for capital city. Meanwhile the international community reacts to what it sees as new housing with condemnation and a straining of ties, including ties between the United States and Israel.

News outlets are reporting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to continue building in East Jerusalem with what he said was the support of a wide consensus of Israelis. Veiled threats to split from Netanyahu did come from the Jewish Home party led by Naftali Bennett, the Economic Minister, who demanded 2,000 new building tenders in the West Bank. He only got half of what he demanded, with plans to improve and expand infrastructure. They will build 400 units in Har Homa and 600 units in Ramat Shlomo, which are well-developed areas.

“The French build in Paris, the English build in London and the Israelis build in Jerusalem. To come and tell Jews not to live in Jerusalem–why?” asked Netanyahu in the Knesset earlier.

By Anne Phyllis Pinzow