Israel confiscate 700 donums of Palestinian lands in al-Quds

The West Al-Quds (Jerusalem) municipality chaired by Ehud Olmert approved lately a plan to confiscate around 700 donums of Palestinian lands in the eastern suburbs of the holy city, the Palestinian radio, monitored in Amman, said on Saturday.

Each donum equals 1,000 square meters.

The radio said this step comes within the framework of the Israeli expansionist plan aimed at dominating Jerusalem ahead of the final settlement negotiations with the Palestinians.

The Palestinian and Israeli delegations will hold their negotiations in Washington to reach an agreement on the final settlement issues, the third stage of the Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian lands and the future of Jerusalem.

A few days ago, the Israeli authorities confiscated hundreds of hectares of Palestinian agricultural lands in villages and towns of Ramallah in the West Bank.

The lands were seized under the pretext of building a new road linking two Jewish settlements.