Despite the continued aggression against the Gaza Strip and the state of war that Israel is experiencing, the Israeli occupation continues to seek further settlement expansion in Jerusalem with support and cooperation between the various occupation institutions. 

Recently, Beit Maqdis News Agency revealed a settlement plan targeting Mount Scopus, northeast of Jerusalem, and Ein Karem in its occupied west since 1948. 

The settlement plan targets the forests and woods of the village of Ein Karem, which was seized by “Hadassah” Hospital, and the remaining woods seized by “Hadassah” in the foothills of Mount Scopus. 

According to what the researcher specializing in “Israeli” affairs reported, the agreement to begin this settlement plan was signed between the “Israel Lands Authority” and the occupation Ministry of Construction and Housing. 

 Halsa says: “Hadassah will return part of the lands near Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and in Mount Scopus to the state in exchange for Hadassah receiving 150 million shekels. The purpose of restoring this amount is to build between 9,000 and 10,000 settlement units in these two areas.” 

Halsa adds: “This project comes in the context of a prior agreement in 2014 between the two parties. The goal of this settlement plan is to revitalize the medical facilities in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, as the hospital will spend the amounts granted to it in order to develop various medical facilities and very modern emergency rooms.”  

Halasa continues: “The settlement project will be allocated primarily to workers at Hadassah Hospital, and the Land Authority and the Ministry of Housing boast that this project will establish the (Israeli) presence in Jerusalem by exploiting the open spaces to occupy the largest possible area of land in Jerusalem with the settlement presence.” . 

This project comes in the context of the general occupation policy towards Jerusalem to Judaize and Israelize the geography of the city and its surroundings. What encourages the occupation to such projects is that the beginning of work on settlement projects there does not require sorting and organizing procedures at the occupation municipality, or procedures for seizing it, as no Palestinian party disputes the occupation. It is necessary, given that the targeted area is open forests that are not owned by anyone (princely lands), which are lands owned by Hadassah Hospital as an institution.

The Ministry of Housing will accelerate the procedures for obtaining permits and approvals to start this settlement project, in cooperation with the occupation municipality in Jerusalem. 

This settlement project shows a state of concerted efforts between the various medical, housing and natural occupation institutions in order to implement Israelization and Judaization plans in Jerusalem.