Under the cover of the Gaza disengagement, the city of Jerusalem has just approved a plan to build Jewish homes in the center of the Muslim Quarter of the city. This area houses 10 times more people than in any other place in Jerusalem. For the last several years, right-wing American Jew Irving Moskowitz has poured millions of dollars into building a Jewish settler presence in Arab East Jerusalem. The residents of these homes live under heavy security, with machine gun-wielding guards overlooking the neighbors below. This arrangement has already caused tension with Palestinian neighbors.

The new plan to build homes and a synagogue for 150 Jews in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is different -- it's not privately funded. Instead, it's funded by the Israeli government, with US taxpayer support. Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said about the plan, "This is pouring fuel on the fire. We ask that the international community intervene immediately to stop such actions."

Send the letter below to your US representatives and to Israeli government representatives, and urge a halt to this project.

If you are able, please call Israeli officials at the phone numbers below:

Minister of the Interior Ofir Pines +972 2 566 6376
Minister for Building and Infrastructure Isaac Herzog +972 2 582 4111
Director of Jerusalem District Planning Ruth Yosef +972 2 629 0216