Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) has criticized government policy in the West Bank, claiming it is limiting construction in the settlements and in Jerusalem.

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According to Ariel, any construction plan in the West Bank or in the capital requires the personal authorization of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who seeks to reduce the number of housing units approved and asks "Why so many?"

"Of course there's a curb on construction," Ariel asserted. "In the last year, there has been an improvement compared to the Obama era, but it's far from what can and should be."

Uri Ariel (Photo: Marc Israel Sellem)

"There is an agreement with the Americans that we could build, but not go crazy... but we have to admit the truth: There are significant limitations," he claimed.

"Unfortunately, this wasn't what we prayed for. I, personally, am very disappointed," Ariel continued. "Israel is interpreting the understandings with the Americans far more strictly than the Americans do."

He called to "allow construction in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem like in Raanana," adding that "It is time for Israel in its 70th year to show it has full sovereignty, including in Jerusalem."