Al-Quds
Israeli authorities on Wednesday approved construction of a Jewish religious school in a Palestinian neighborhood of Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem).
According toIsrael's Channel 7,the Jerusalem Municipality's organization and construction committee approved construction of the nine-story school in Al-Quds' Sheikh Jarrah district despite opposition from leftist members of the panel.
Earlier Wednesday, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Ahmed Qurei condemned Israeli plans to build the school in a Palestinian neighborhood, warning the move could hamper ongoing US-brokered peace talks.
Qurei went on to say that the PLO's committee on Al-Quds affairs would convene on Wednesday to discuss the issue.
Palestinians insist that Israeli settlement building must stop before a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian final-status agreement can be reached.
Both the UN and the US consider Israeli settlement activity on occupied Palestinian land to be a breach of international law.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
englishnews@aa.com.tr
