The British Embassy sent an observer to a recent meeting held by Jerusalem's District Planning and Building committee, Ynet learned Thursday.
The committee holds weekly meetings to discuss and advance various municipal plans, meant to promote the welfare of all Jerusalemites, but while other municipal committees of this nature are purely professional, the capital's zoning committee's activities are perceived as political.
Jerusalem's committee has the power to green-light building permits beyond the Green Line. Such moves are often subject to international censure.
A recent decision by the committee, to approve 942 housing units in the city's southwest Gilo neighborhood, irked both the United States and Britain. British Foreign Secretary William Hague denounced the decision, saying it was impeding the peace talks.
It was that decision, Ynet learned, that prompted the British Embassy to send a representative to the meeting, so she could report back to her superiors with a firsthand impression of the committee's work.
Sources familiar with the subject said this was not the first time a British delegate was present at committee meetings, which are open to the public; adding that that is often the case when zoning plans protruding the Green Line are involved.
Still, several committee members said they were unaware of a UK representative's presence at the meeting; and some were even enraged to find out they were being "surveilled."
"Inviting someone who represents a county with political interests hostile to those of Israel must be perceived with all severity," Jerusalem City Councilman and committee member Yair Gabay told Ynet.
"It is unprecedented and if anyone in City Hall had anything to do with it, they should resign immediately.
The British Embassy confirmed sending a representative to the meeting, citing the meeting was open to the public, and adding that the embassy was "following everything to do with settlements closely."
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