Israeli occupation settlement building activities continue unabatedly in occupied Al-Quds

The Israeli occupation continues unabatedly to implement its settlement building plans in occupied Al-Quds and the rest of the towns and cities of the West Bank with the aim of creating a fait accompli that undermines all hopes for establishing a geographically connected Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital.

In its weekly report issued on Saturday, the Palestinian Liberation Front (PLO) National Bureau for Defending the Land and Resisting Settlements said that the occupation authorities announced a plan to build a huge settlement bridge with approximately 5 meters wide and 70 meters long to link the courtyard of Al-Buraq Wall, the western wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Bab Al-Maghraba (Al-Magharba gate) through which the Israeli settlers used to storm Al-Aqsa mosque.

According to the report, building this bridge needs carrying out digging works in the area in order to set up the columns and the huge bases in the western wall of Al-Aqsa area. Many digging works have already been carried out by the occupation in this place, causing cracks and collapse incidents in the fence and consequently leading to massive damage to Al-Aqsa Mosque and its gates and a notable change in the features of the entire area.

 The report indicated that the occupation forces razed areas of Palestinian land extending from the main entrance of the town of Hizma, northeast of Al-Quds, to Al-Shaab area near the Hizmet Jaba’ main street, thereby restricting the movement of the Palestinians in the town, which is the main lifeline linking the north and south of the West Bank and one of the main gates to the city of Al-Quds.

Moreover, the report said, the Israeli settlers, protected by the occupation forces, have built a wall in the vicinity of Ein Silwan town’s mosque, which is 300 meters away from the southern wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, in preparation for taking over the mosque and the surrounding area completely and for obliterating its features and civilization.

The report indicated that displacement doesn’t threaten the Palestinians in Al-Quds alone, but also in the entire West Bank, pointing out that the Israeli settlers, protected by the occupation forces, razed wide areas near Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil old town with the aim of building a settlement outpost in the heart of Al-Khalil that links the settlement outposts already established on the Palestinians’ lands in this area, the report went on to say.

It added that the occupation forces razed areas in the north of Salfit city and uprooted 180 olive trees there. They also demolished a number of houses and agricultural facilities in Ariha city.

The report noted the repeated raids by Israeli settlers on Al-Quds old city and neighborhoods and the settlers’ attacks on the Palestinians’ cars driving along the road between Nablus and Qalqilya cities.

Hamda Mustafa