(Interview with LAtimes):
Q: The Obama administration doesn't want to see provocative actions in Jerusalem, like development of Jewish neighborhoods on disputed land in East Jerusalem. How has that been communicated to you?
A: Jerusalem will grow, with me or without me, with the American administration or without the American administration. Jerusalem is a city that is developing. The city will [have] 1 million people in 20 years. The key question is: Are we going to manage it or not? It's very straightforward thinking. Nothing new. Nothing political. Very professional. My role and goal is to manage the growth process of the city.
Q: Has there been any guidance from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt or slow construction in neighborhoods over the Green Line?
A: No. I don't know of any other city where, all of a sudden, the American administration has all kinds of requests [about limiting construction]. On the contrary, I think the Israeli government understands we are honestly and fairly building the city. It's a lot of catch-up [work].
Q: There's been speculation that rather than a formal, public freeze in East Jerusalem, there will be an unstated policy to simply avoid approval of large or controversial projects.
A: It cannot work. First of all, when we say freeze, do you mean [a freeze on] Arab building in the city or only Jewish building in the city or both?
Q: On Jewish building in the eastern part of the city that presumably would become part of a future Palestinian state.
A: Do you freeze building for Arabs in the western part of the city? It's illegal. It's an illegal demand. It's illegal in the U.S. It's illegal in Europe. And it's illegal in Israel. Therefore it's a straight no. The same rules for Jews and Arabs apply in all parts of the city of Jerusalem. It's a free market. [People] can buy and sell.
Q: There haven't been any new approvals by municipal planning committees of significant Jewish housing projects in East Jerusalem since the spat with the U.S. Is that correct?
A: You don't approve on a daily basis. You can expect 37,000 new [housing units] for Jewish residents and 13,000 for Arab residents from now until 2030. It's a long, cumbersome process to build in Jerusalem. The expansion is in phases, and I anticipate that the process will continue for the benefit of all residents.
Q: The Obama administration doesn't want to see provocative actions in Jerusalem, like development of Jewish neighborhoods on disputed land in East Jerusalem. How has that been communicated to you?
A: Jerusalem will grow, with me or without me, with the American administration or without the American administration. Jerusalem is a city that is developing. The city will [have] 1 million people in 20 years. The key question is: Are we going to manage it or not? It's very straightforward thinking. Nothing new. Nothing political. Very professional. My role and goal is to manage the growth process of the city.
Q: Has there been any guidance from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt or slow construction in neighborhoods over the Green Line?
A: No. I don't know of any other city where, all of a sudden, the American administration has all kinds of requests [about limiting construction]. On the contrary, I think the Israeli government understands we are honestly and fairly building the city. It's a lot of catch-up [work].
Q: There's been speculation that rather than a formal, public freeze in East Jerusalem, there will be an unstated policy to simply avoid approval of large or controversial projects.
A: It cannot work. First of all, when we say freeze, do you mean [a freeze on] Arab building in the city or only Jewish building in the city or both?
Q: On Jewish building in the eastern part of the city that presumably would become part of a future Palestinian state.
A: Do you freeze building for Arabs in the western part of the city? It's illegal. It's an illegal demand. It's illegal in the U.S. It's illegal in Europe. And it's illegal in Israel. Therefore it's a straight no. The same rules for Jews and Arabs apply in all parts of the city of Jerusalem. It's a free market. [People] can buy and sell.
Q: There haven't been any new approvals by municipal planning committees of significant Jewish housing projects in East Jerusalem since the spat with the U.S. Is that correct?
A: You don't approve on a daily basis. You can expect 37,000 new [housing units] for Jewish residents and 13,000 for Arab residents from now until 2030. It's a long, cumbersome process to build in Jerusalem. The expansion is in phases, and I anticipate that the process will continue for the benefit of all residents.