Palestinian town reels as Israel clears land for new settlement

AL-EIZARIYA: In a town near Jerusalem, a growing number of houses and businesses are receiving demolition and evacuation notices, and Palestinian residents link the drive to Israel's approval of a major new settlement project.

"This is a project of total destruction for the economy and the people. It will affect everyone," said Yahya Abu Ghaliyeh, whose home in Al-Eizariya town was demolished by Israeli authorities earlier this year.Now, the 37-year-old's car wash business is also due for demolition. The notices say the buildings were constructed without permits, and no official Israeli statement links the demolition orders to the settlement project.But Palestinian residents say such permits are nearly impossible to obtain from Israel, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967. They also link the impending demolitions to the E1 plan, one of the largest West Bank settlement projects ever approved by Israel.The project, which aims to build approximately 3,400 housing units, will connect Jerusalem with nearby Maale Adumim, one of the largest Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

In Aug, Israel gave the green light to E1, a new construction project covering some 12 square kilometres to the east of Jerusalem.The E1 plan has been condemned by several international leaders, with the UN chief's spokesman saying it would pose an "existential threat" to a contiguous Palestinian state. The move would further separate east Jerusalem, occupied and annexed by Israel and predominantly inhabited by Palestinians, from the West Bank.Al-Eizariya, also known as Bethany, is is home to the tomb and church of Lazarus, which draw half a million tourists annually, according to Mayor Khalil Abu Rish. AFP