Israel to approve 1,030 new settlement units in occupied Jerusalem

The Israeli occupation government intends to approve 1,030 new settlement units in the towns of Sur Baher and Jabal Al-Mukaber, in the occupied city of Jerusalem, the Palestinian Information Centre reported today.

According to a plan published by Hebrew media, 380 housing units are expected to be constructed in the illegal Nof Zion settlement near Jabal Al-Mukaber, in addition to a school, two synagogues and commercial areas.

About 650 more housing units, commercial areas, an elementary school, a synagogue, a community centre and a kindergarten will also be built near the Sur Baher neighbourhood, between the Ramat Rachel settlement kibbutz and the Har Homa neighbourhood.

Illegal Israeli settlements are suffocating the occupied city of Jerusalem and besieging its Arab neighbourhoods, placing it at risk of Judaisation and displacement, in an effort to “legitimise” the annexation of the settlements illegally built on Palestinian land.

All settlements are illegal under international law and, in July last year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) called for Israel to dismantle settlements and pay reparations to Palestinians.

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