Hamas: UN should halt Israel's building projects in Jerusalem

Hamas yesterday rejected the Israeli government’s decision to authorise a number of building projects in occupied Jerusalem.

Speaking at a press conference the chairman of Hamas’ Jerusalem affairs department, Ahmad Abu Halabiya, said that Hamas “strongly rejects” the new construction plan. Israeli authorities have announced plans to excavate under Al-Buraq in the Old City and build an air-train.

Abu Halabiya pointed out that the construction plan, which was described by the occupation authorities as “developmental”, is part of Israel’s policies to Judaise the Holy City and Al-Buraq Wall area.

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The 50 million shekel ($14 million) project will develop what the Israelis call the “Old City Basin” in Jerusalem. Israeli media has reported that the project will include the construction of corridors and underground tunnels, with the aim of connecting the Jewish part of Jerusalem with Al-Buraq Wall area, near Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The project’s implementation, Abu Halabiya warned, would eradicate the Islamic historical identity of the Old City.

The head of the Jerusalem Committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to “urgently” intervene to stop what he described as the “Israeli threat” on Jerusalem. He demanded the UN force Israel to abide by international resolutions in the holy city.

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The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Sunday that the government had adopted a series of resolutions that would continue what he called “strengthening Jerusalem”. The construction of an air-train, he added, will become a special tourist feature on which Israelis can travel to the square.

PA officials and the Ministry of Islamic Endowments (affiliated to the Jordanian government) believe Israel is going to great lengths to Judaise the Old City at the expense of the Palestinians.

In January UNESCO adopted a resolution that condemned Israel’s approved plan to build two air-trains in East Jerusalem.