Zionists want to build tourist center in al-Quds, Jerusalem

Israel is planning to build a tourist center on the Palestinian land in the occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem), a local information center says.

Wadi Hilweh Information Center issued a statement on Tuesday, saying the structure will be built south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Palestinian Ma’an News Agency reported.

A museum along with a park will be constructed on a 1,200 square meter piece of private Palestinian land.

The plan is not the only Israeli construction project in East al-Quds (Jerusalem). Tel Aviv is also pressing ahead with its settlement expansion plans in the city.

According to reports, Israel plans to impose “sovereignty” on the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli Knesset (parliament) is set to discuss a proposal later this week to place the so-called Temple Mount, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, under Israeli sovereignty.

Tel Aviv had previously confirmed its plans to replace the Al-Aqsa Mosque with a temple.

Palestinians have denounced the plan as desecration, saying it is part of the Israeli regime’s ongoing attempts to distort the Arab and Islamic history.

They also argue that al-Quds is the capital of a future Palestinian independent state, and that its heritage should remain intact.

Over the past decades, Israel has tried to change the demographic makeup of al-Quds by constructing illegal settlements, destroying historical sites and expelling the local Palestinian population.

Over half a million Israelis live in more than 120 settlement units since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, including East al-Quds, during the Six-day War of 1967.

The international community considers the settlements as illegal.