On the positive side, the KeepJerusalem survey also showed that a huge majority of 80 percent supports significant construction in Jewish neighborhoods such as Gilo, Pisgat Ze’ev, Har Homa, and others, despite the heavy international counter-pressure. Among the religious sector, a whopping 96 percent favor such construction.
“There is no public legitimacy for the quiet building freeze in Jerusalem,” according to Silberstein. “Prime Minster Netanyahu must realize that he has broad public support to renew massive construction in eastern Jerusalem’s Jewish neighborhoods, which has mostly been frozen over the last five years. If the current demographic trends continue as they are without major corrective actions, we might wake up in 15 years to an Arab mayor of Jerusalem.”