Ramallah: The Islamic Christian Commission in Support of Jerusalem and Holy Sites yesterday announced that Israeli authorities in occupied Jerusalem had already approved the construction of hundreds of new housing units in the Shaikh Jarah neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem in response to the latest Palestinian reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas.
The commission said in an official statement that the Planning and Building Committee of the Jerusalem Municipality had approved the construction of 386 new homes, a synagogue, a religious school and kindergarten in Shaikh Jarah.
Accelerating aggression
Dr Hassan Khater, the commission's Secretary-General, said that the Israeli move followed the latest unity deal between Fatah, Hamas and the other Palestinian factions. He said the Israelis had decided to accelerate their aggression in occupied East Jerusalem.
Dr Khater said that the new construction in Shaikh Jarah covered a total of 8,000 square meters owned by Palestinians in the neighbourhood, stressing that the Israeli move will leave 300 Palestinians homeless.
Responding to the Palestinian unity deal, he said, Israel would build more homes in occupied East Jerusalem to end Arab, Muslim and Christian existence in the city.
