Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat criticized the government’s policy in Judea and Samaria, demanding more construction of residential buildings.

“When Israel is asked to ‘freeze the construction’ in Jerusalem and its metropolis, in Maale Adumim or anywhere else; what construction are they trying to prevent? Only Jewish construction?” said Barkat in the Knesset Lobby for the Land of Israel. “Would anyone in the US or in Britain even consider demanding a construction freeze for Jews or Arabs only?”

“Construction in Maale Adumim is necessary in the near future to enable economic development to residents of the Jerusalem metropolis and to the needed connection between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim,” added Barkat. “In Jerusalem construction is approved in all parts of the city, to Jews and Arabs without discrimination. This needs to become possible for our neighboring town too.”

Two Israeli-Arab lawyers, brother and sister, were sentenced to prison sentences by the Jerusalem District Court. They were convicted in December 2015 of exploiting their position as lawyers to run a communication network between Hamas and Islamic Jihad prisoners and leaders.

The brother, 42-year-old Medhat Issawi, received eight years in prison while his sister, 37-year-old Shireen Issawi, received a sentence of four years.

IDF and police forces demolished the Chazon David synagogue in Kiryat Arba and arrived with tractors and heavy equipment to carry out the task.

Baruch Marzel, prominent resident of nearby Hebron, harshly criticized the demolition of the synagogue.

“Netanyahu and Ya’alon once again prove that they are heroes at the expense of Jews,” Marzel charged.  “They show zero enforcement against illegal construction by Arabs and repeatedly destroy a synagogue erected in memory of murdered victims.”

“Instead of dealing with terrorism, the commander of the Hebron Brigade commander confronts Jews and creates friction,” added Marzel.

Marzel also criticized Minister Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Jewish Home Party regarding the incident. “Let’s not forget Naftali Bennett, who is sitting on seat of a Minister and prefers to watch as a spectator from the sidelines,” said Marzel.

Jewish-Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria is often demolished by the IDF and Israeli security forces when built without official approval by the Israeli government.

Israel Police arrested three men with Turkish passports overnight after they illegally crossed the border from Jordan to Israel.

The men, who were unarmed, crossed the border near Eilat in southern Israel and were taken for questioning.

A hit-and-run attack at the Gush Etzion Junction on the morning of Friday, March 4 left one IDF soldier lightly wounded. The terrorist was shot dead by security forces. The wounded Israeli, a male described as being around 20 years old, was taken to Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem for treatment.

The Gush Etzion Junction has seen repeated terror attacks in recent months.