Israel to build new settlement in occupied Jerusalem

The Israeli government is planning to build a new settlement project in the occupied city of Jerusalem, Haaretz reported yesterday.

“Israel is advancing plans for a new neighborhood in south Jerusalem for Jews, beyond the Green Line and near the Palestinian neigbourhod of Beit Safafa that suffers from a severe shortage of land for new construction,” Haaretz columnist, Nir Hasson, said. The Green Line separates the land which formed Israel in 1948 and the territories it went on to occupy in 1967.

Hasson pointed out that the project was being planned by the Jerusalem municipality and the justice ministry’s administrator general.

The Israeli journalist noted that the municipality and a “building committee” would discuss plans for the new neighbourhood tomorrow, explaining that the settlement would be called “Givat Shaked.”

“The land consists of 38 dunams (9.4 acres) of open space overlooking David Benvenisti street and the Al-Dahra neighbourhood,” Hasson said, adding that the project would include “473 homes, an elementary school, preschools and synagogues.”

It will be located near the Palestinian neighbourhood of Beit Safafa.

READ: ‘Israeli soldiers render Bedouin family shelter less’