Israel plans Jerusalem expansion over Green Line

Ma'an

Plans for Israel's expansion of Jerusalem's borders were revealed on Wednesday, which include a 12,000 housing unit complex on land belonging to the West Bank village of Al-Walaja, south of Jerusalem, The Islamic Christian Commission for Support of Jerusalem and the holy Places (ICC).

ICC Secretary-General Hasan Khatir said during a news conference that the new settlement would be called Giv'at Ya'el, and house approximately 45,000 Israelis, with plans laid for a large park.

Khatir added that the project would "foster the enclosure of Jerusalem from the south," lay the foundation for the appropriation of land between Jerusalem and Gush Etzion, and consolidate the illegal southern settlements of Har Homa (Abu Ghneim), Gilo and the smaller Har Gilo settlement in Beit Jala, Bethlehem governorate.

"While Israeli authorities refuse to allow the Palestinian residents of Al-Walaja to extend their building area and suppress anti-settlement demonstrations, they try to blackmail the residents through threatening to demolish their homes claiming they are built without permits," Khatir said.

He said Israeli authorities threatened to demolish 95 houses in Al-Walaja, telling residents that the demolition would be stayed if they complied with Israeli construction in the area.

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