Massive Al-Quds Settlement Expansion

Despite claims of scaling back settlement activities, Israel plans to build housing units, a swimming pool, mini country club, community library, parking spaces, a synagogue and kindergartens in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem).

"We are talking about a massive expansion of an existing settlement in the Ras al-Amud neighborhood into a settlement of more than 1,000 in the heart of a crowded Palestinian neighborhood in the eastern part of the city," Yehudit Oppenheimer, director of the Ir Amim group, told Yediot Aharonot on Sunday, 23 August.

"This is a very sensitive place, and this settlement is a continuation of the 'Hebronization' process in Jerusalem, which damages the chances for a future agreement."

The plans, submitted for the Jerusalem municipality for approval, include the construction of 104 housing units in Ras Al-Mud neighborhood, home to some 14,000 Palestinians.

They also involve high-end housing and a swimming pool, mini country club, community library and parking spaces.

A synagogue, kindergartens and a Jewish ritual purification bath are also planned for construction there.

The new units would also be connected to another settlement called Ma'aleh Zeitim to form the largest Israeli settlement in Al-Quds.

"This is a blatant provocation against Israel's relations with the Palestinians, and has a very dangerous potential," warned Oppenheimer.

Israel occupied Al-Quds in the 1967 Middle East war and then annexed the city in a move not recognized by the world community or UN resolutions.

The holy city is home to Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which includes Islam's third holiest shrine Al-Aqsa Mosque, and represents the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Palestinians insist the holy city will be the capital of their future independent.

Non-Stop

The Peace Now group said Sunday that settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories were continuing unabated.

"In the last six months settlers had no reason to complain," Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer told Yediot Aharonot.

In its bi-annual report, the advocacy group said almost 600 units have been constructed in the West Bank since the start of the year.

It also cited an 8-percent increase in the number of permanent structures currently under construction.

"The construction continues with government support in the large settlement blocs and in a roundabout manner in isolated colonies."

The advocacy group said that in some cases construction is done based on old plans that have not been approved or even without any plans at all.

"By using old blueprints they continue to expand settlements throughout the West Bank without the government's intervention, even when this is done illegally," he added.

"The number of new structures and caravans speaks for itself."

Peace Now accused the Israeli government of turning a blind eye to all these activities.

"It is in the power of the government to prevent construction that has been green-lighted in the past, but politically it finds it easier to allow the construction by turning a blind eye and providing direct or indirect incentives, while at the same time continuing to maintain that it is pushing for a 'settlement freeze'."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected American calls for a total freeze.

About half a million Jewish settlers currently live in settlements in both the occupied West Bank and Al-Quds.

There are more than 164 Jewish settlements in the West Bank, eating up more than 40 percent of the occupied territory.

The international community considers all Jewish settlements on occupied Palestinian land illegal.