One goal of the new Israeli plan for Jerusalem

Analysts say that the Israeli plans to expand Jerusalem's boundaries are illegal and violate the principles of international law as well as the Geneva conventions.

The main problem in this issue is that the US appears to have toned down their criticism of the Israeli plan which aims at expanding the area of Jerusalem, estimated today at 100 square kilometers, to 600 square kilometers.

Initially, the Clinton administration accused Israel of taking a provocative step at a sensitive time in negotiations. Secretary of state Madeline Albright told Israeli Prime Minister Netenyahu, "Your Cabinet's decision to expand Jerusalem's boundaries is viewed as something that was not helpful to the Middle East peace process because in this sensitive environment unilateral actions are not helpful."

This new unilateral Israeli action will make the boundaries of greater Jerusalem contiguous with the Arab town of Ramallah in the north, the Hebron plateau in the south, the Jordan valley in the east and the Palestinian coastal areas in the west. In all, the authority of greater Jerusalem will encompass as much as a quarter of the entire area of the West Bank, dashing any Palestinian hope for the establishment of an independent state in the West Bank.

Netanyahu's most apparent strategic goal through this plan is to consolidate Jewish predominance in Jerusalem by guaranteeing also an absolute Jewish majority of at least 20% in Jerusalem for 20 years to come.

But the real Israeli goal is to cut the West Bank into two separate parts, northern and southern, lacking territorial continuity. Shredding the West Bank into two separate enclaves which will make it utterly unfit and unavailable for a state worthy of the name.