Israel has earmarked US$17 billion for the Judaization of Jerusalem, the holy city which both Palestinians and Israelis insist on as the capital of their states, an Arab League official said Monday.
“The attack on Jerusalem is very overwhelming … Israel is in control of prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque,” Mohamed Sobeih, Assistant of the Arab League secretary general for Palestinian affairs, told Palestinian Al-Ray news agency. He urged for the immediate application of Jerusalem-related resolutions in consecutive Arab, Islamic and UN summits.
The status of Jerusalem is a central, contentious issue in the faltering efforts to achieve peace between Palestinians and Israel, as both sides claim the ancient city as indispensable.
Tensions break out regularly between Palestinian and Israeli visitors at the al-Aqsa Mosque area, a site consecrated by both sides.
At least 600,000 Israelis now live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which is nearly five times higher than in 1993 when the Oslo Agreement was signed, when 105,000 settlers lived in the occupied territories.
Israeli housing minister Uri Ariel said in May settlers in the West Bank are expected to increase 50 percent by 2019.
