Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-02-13

Apartheid Israel has announced plans to a build a Jewish religious school along with a Jewish settlement in Al-Quds (Occupied East Jerusalem) in what is seen as efforts to the Judaise the holy city.

According to Ahmed Qorei, the Head of Jerusalem Affairs Department in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Israel would also move some of its government offices to the occupied holy city.

“[Israel’s plan to] build a Jewish school and a settlement facility in the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods, especially Sheikh Jarrah, is a blow to American efforts [in the peace process],” Qorei, said in statement cited by World Bulletin.

Qorei criticized Israeli plans to erect a Jewish school that will also be accompanied by a new building for its National Insurance Institute.

“The Israeli cabinet continues to move government offices to Sheikh Jarrah to impose a status quo that aims to thwart the announcement of East Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state,” he added.

Qorei said East Jerusalem is an occupied land and the capital of the Palestinian state. “Any settlement projects conducted on its land are illegal and illegitimate and only aims at halting peace efforts.

Both the United Nations and the United States consider Israeli settlement activity on occupied Palestinian land to be a breach of international law

As the new plans were announced, the Israeli forces raided a number of homes in Al-Quds, arresting five Palestinian children

According to eyewitnesses, the arrested children are under 15 and were taken from the Old City and the neighborhood of Oqbah al-Khalidiya.

The new arrests by Israeli forces increased the number of Palestinian children detained in Israeli Prisons to about 200 children, according to non-official tallies.

In 2013, Israel has demolished more than 500 Palestinian homes in the West Bank and the occupied East Jerusalem, according to the UN.

Israel occupied the holy city and the West Bank in the 1967 war and later annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community or UN resolutions.

Since then, Israel has adopted a series of oppressive measures to impel Palestinians out of the city, including systematic destruction of their homes and settlements.

Al-Quds is home to Al-Haram Sharif, which includes Islam's third holies masjid, Al-Aqsa after the Ka`bah in Makkah and Masjid un Nabawi (Prophet Muhammad's Masjid) in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Al-Quds also represents the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Its significance has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra'a and Al Mi'raj — the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him). – World Bulletin.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)