The Israeli occupation authorities left no means but to use them to target the town of Jabal Mukaber, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, whether through settlement projects or demolition operations, and the establishment of security and military centers, in preparation for besieging it with settlements and settlers, restricting the movement of its people and exposing their lives to daily danger.

The occupation municipality intends to establish a huge military base on the outskirts of Jabal Mukaber, and expand the “Nof Zion” settlement established on its lands, so that it becomes the largest settlement within the Arab neighborhoods east of Jerusalem.

“Nof Zion” was established in early 2000, with funding from Jewish investors, on an area of 114 dunams that were stolen from the lands of Jabal Mukaber, as a private neighborhood overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, and is currently inhabited by about 100 Jewish families.

The leftist Israeli “Ir Amim” association said: “The occupation authorities are seeking to expand the Nof Zion settlement at the entrance to Jabal Mukaber, and the plan stipulates the construction of 100 new housing units and 275 hotel rooms.”

She added, “Nof Zion currently consists of 95 units with about 200 additional units under construction, and is set to become the largest settlement in the heart of a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem with a capacity of 400 units.”

The association’s researcher, Aviv Tatarsky, warned that “establishing the new settlement will deepen the armed presence of the police, border guards, and private guards, who will target the sense of security and obstruct the daily life of tens of thousands of Jabal Mukaber residents.”