Hebrw University mulls more settlement units

Baka’a center for planning and building warned of an "Israeli" plan prepared by the Hebrew university in occupied Quds (Jerusalem) to build 204 settlement units in the French Hill settlement in place of the existing student units.

In a press release on Sunday, director of the center Qais Naser said the plan is aimed to limit the growing Arab presence especially the number of Arab students in the French Hill settlement.

Naser added that the "Israeli" district committee for planning and building in the holy city would discuss the plan in a meeting on Monday to make a decision in this regard.

According to the director of Baka’a, the Hebrew university submitted to the district committee a structural layout of its plan to demolish four hostel buildings inhabited by students in the settlement and build six apartment buildings of 204 housing units for Jewish settlers only.

It is to note that Israeli government broke all its settlement-building records in 2011, "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned it into a very fruitful year for the settlers."

"Peace Now" Jewish association reported a 20 percent increase in settlement construction during the year and said about 35 percent of 1850 housing starts were on land beyond a separation barrier.

The report added that building was also underway on another 3500 houses already begun and it listed continuing work in 142 settlements. It said much of the building was intended for religious Jews who cite biblical links to the land.

In a separate report on Tuesday, the United Nations humanitarian affairs unit said five Palestinian were killed and 1000 injured by settlers or security forces in incidents related to the settlements during the year.

Two children were among those killed, and nearly a fifth of all injuries were suffered by under-18s, UN OCHA said.