Israel opens new settlement on occupied land in the heart of East Jerusalem

"Despite strong opposition from the Palestinians and the international community, Israel remains adamant with its settlement building on occupied land, this time in the heart of Arab East Jerusalem and in close proximity to the Al Aqsa Mosque."


PressTV - Israel opens new settlement on occupied land:

Thu May 26, 2011 2:18PM
Ibrahim Husseini, Press TV, East Jerusalem al-Quds

"Pressing ahead with their settlement policy, top Israeli officials on Wednesday attended a dedication ceremony for the new Israeli settlements of Ma'aleh Zeitim, in East Jerusalem's Ras al-Amud neighborhood.

Among the attendees were Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barakat, and four ministers.

Ma'aleh Zeitim settlement is projected to house 110 families while an adjacent neighborhood, Ma'aleh David, still in the planning stages, would add an additional 90 homes to the area, making the combined area the largest Israeli settlement in Arab East Jerusalem.

Palestinian residents were outraged.

A group of tens of left-wing activists gathered outside the site of the ceremony, shouting 'Jews and Arabs against Ma'aleh Zeitim' and 'no to occupation'.

The ceremony comes shortly after a series of speeches by US President Barak Obama and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on the Middle East, and amid American and Israeli calls for the resumption of talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Work on the settlement began in the late 1990s when the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected petitions by Palestinians who claimed ownership of the land.

Despite strong opposition from the Palestinians and the international community, Israel remains adamant with its settlement building on occupied land, this time in the heart of Arab East Jerusalem and in close proximity to the Al Aqsa Mosque.





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