Israel has told the Palestinian municipality in Hebron (Al-Khalil) that it must agree to the construction of a new Jewish-only neighborhood or lose its right to the land.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Defense Minister Naftali Bennett sent a letter on December 1 to the municipality of the Palestinian city, through the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, stating “If it failed to comply within 30 days, legal proceedings would be filed to lift its protected status.”
— Jørgen Jensehaugen (@JJensehaugen) December 9, 2019
The plan, which was first proposed by the head of Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman, states that the Palestinian municipality must accept the demolition of the wholesale market, located in the Old City, and accept the construction of new – illegal – settlement homes for Jewish settlers.
Haaretz said that the plan would give the Palestinian municipality the right to maintain the ground floor of the new project to use as a market.
my beautiful hometown of Hebron, Palestine. Despite being surrounded by the worst Israeli settlement, we’re still here ?? pic.twitter.com/AbAKCnmKuI
— yousef (@yousefslym) December 6, 2019
Haaretz reported Samer Shehadeh, who represents the municipality, saying:
“This letter is akin to a threat and an attempt to pressure the municipality to grant its consent to the move, but it will never happen.”
Israel's far-right Defense Minister Neftali Bennet has introduced a plan to build a new Jewish settlement in the heart of Hebron.
This short trip by Breaking The Silence gives a glimpse about the challenges created by the Israeli settlements in the city. pic.twitter.com/zppUwSpUlM
— Sarah Mohammed (@sarah_mo7ammed) December 2, 2019
It also reported the Israeli NGO Peace Now saying: “The legal acrobatics have reached new heights when it comes to expanding the settlements.”
(Middle East Monitor, PC, Social Media)
