By KUNA,
GAZA : Israel plans to build a new settlement on occupied Palestinian land near Jerusalem in the West Bank, media reported here Sunday.
Haaretz Israeli newspaper said that Israel invested NIS 200 million, about USD 49 million, in the past two years to prepare the infrastructure for the construction of the settlement which will connect Ma’aleh Adumim settlement and East Jerusalem.
“Ma’aleh Adumim is an inalienable part of Jerusalem and the State of Israel in any permanent settlement,” the paper quoted a statement from the office of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak as saying.
The paper also added that a spokesman from the office of Kadima chair Livni said “Ma’aleh Adumim will remain part of the State of Israel in any future peace agreement.” The new settlement will be constructed in area “A1”, controlled by the Palestinians, in which an Israeli police station was built in 2008.(end) zt.ris KUNA 011005 Feb 09NNNN