Livni slams PM’s ‘spineless’ purported backtracking on Qalqilya plan

Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni calls Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “spineless” for backtracking and sending mixed messages on a plan to build thousands of housing units in the Palestinian city of Qalqilya, which was approved by the security cabinet last year.

Speaking at the start of the weekly Zionist Union faction meeting in the Knesset, Livni accuses Netanyahu of “lacking a spine…. The common denominator between the Qalqilya story, the [new] public broadcaster and even the [fight] in the Hadassah [pediatric cancer] department is a prime minister who is unable to stand behind his own decisions.”

The Qalqilya plan, first reported by Channel 2 on Wednesday, would see 14,000 new apartments built on 2,500 dunams (617 acres) in Israeli-controlled Area C surrounding the city, potentially more than doubling its population, from 50,000 to 110,000. Responding to that report, and to fierce opposition voiced by settler leaders, the Prime Minister’s Office said last Wednesday that the proposal was “presented by the defense minister last year and approved by the cabinet.” Since that time, it also noted, “over 10,000 homes have been approved for planning and construction in the Jewish communities.”

But Netanyahu’s office now says Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman had failed to present the cabinet with the full details of the now controversial plan ahead of a ministerial vote on it last year.

Livni on Monday also condemns a police raid on the Yedioth Ahronoth publishing house, calling it “problematic” and demanding explanations.

— Marissa Newman and Raoul Wootliff