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14 Jul, 2015

Israel to build mall, hotel on historic Muslim cemetery

Jerusalem (IINA), 14 Jul 2015 – The Israeli Occupation have approved plans to build a residential neighborhood over the ruins of an ancient Muslim cemetery in West Jerusalem, Anadolu Agency reported, according to Israeli media.

“The Jerusalem District Committee for Planning and Building last week approved construction of 192 residential units, a 480-room hotel and a shopping mall on the ruins of a historic Muslim cemetery in West Jerusalem,” Israel’s daily Haaretz said on Monday.

According to Israel’s Antiquities Authority, graves and human remains have been found in the cemetery.

Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage, a Palestinian non-governmental organization (NGO), blasted the project. “For years, Israel has continued to Judaize Jerusalem’s historic Mamilla Cemetery,” the NGO said in a statement. “The cemetery will remain a part of our Islamic heritage despite Israel’s attempts to distort Jerusalem’s Arab and Islamic history,” it added.

Mamilla Cemetery (Google image)