Palestinian Lands To Be Swallowed By Israeli Settlement Expansion

Jerusalem24 – Al-Quds – Several private Israeli companies as well as the Israeli Municipality in occupied East Jerusalem revealed this morning a series of decisions regarding settlement expansion on Abu Ghneim Mountain, southeast of the occupied city.
The decisions of the Israeli organizing and construction committee involve expanding the settlement on Abu Ghneim at the expense of the lands of Sur Baher and Umm Touba with 344 new settlement units as part of the “Mishkenot Amit” project.
According to Harel Zilznik, CEO of Elram Real Estate, unit sales have shattered records despite the fact that permit procedures have not yet been completed.
Based on the plans set by the municipality, the settlement will expand over 90 dunums of lands from the towns of Sur Baher and Umm Touba close to the Mazmoria checkpoint. The planned expansion will head southwards towards the American Street, which has taken vast tracts of lands from Sur Baher, Umm Touba, Silwan and other Palestinian villages.
Another phase of the project whose details have yet to be released will be implemented after the completion of the main road and the preliminary 343 settlement units, which will include 10 luxury buildings.