JERUSALEM
By Alaa Rimari
The Israeli government is planning to build millions of dollars' worth of new Jewish-only settlements in the city of Al-Quds (East Jerusalem), the Aqsa Foundation for Endowments and Heritage said Wednesday.
"The Israeli occupation is accelerating settlement construction in an effort to obliterate Islamic landmarks in the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque," the foundation asserted in a statement.
According to the statement, the Israeli Finance Ministry has requested 6 million Israeli shekels (roughly $1.5 million) to carry out settlement projects in Jerusalem.
The foundation went on to say that Israeli authorities had also asked for 150 million shekels (roughly $40 million) for "Judaization" projects in Jerusalem under the pretext of "developing" the city.
Israeli authorities have already approved plans to launch a major settlement project west of the Aqsa Mosque, according to the foundation.
Israeli officials could not be reached for comment.
Palestinians accuse Israel of stepping up "Judaizing" the holy city, which they want as the capital of their future state.
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