Khaberni - The Palestinian Governorate of Jerusalem stated that the Israeli occupation authorities approved, on Sunday, a new settlement plan to establish a headquarters for the Ministry of Defense, a recruitment office, and a museum on the ruins of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) complex in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem.
The governorate considered in a statement the approval a "serious escalation and a blatant breach of international law, a flagrant violation of the immunities and privileges of United Nations organizations".
It said that this assault clearly violates Israel's obligations as the occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention, particularly concerning the protection of public property and ensuring the unobstructed operation of international humanitarian bodies, in addition to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
The governorate clarified that this step came after the Israeli occupation authorities demolished the UNRWA complex in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in January, under the direct supervision of the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, before installing an expropriation order on its entrance on behalf of what is called the "Israel Land Authority".
Judaization of the Palestinian Space
The Jerusalem Governorate indicated that the plan - crafted by Defense Minister Yisrael Katz - allocates approximately 36 dunams (a dunam equals 1,000 square meters) for the Defense Ministry without issuing a tender, claiming that the current recruitment office in Jerusalem "does not meet the needs of the Israeli military", in a move reflecting an escalating Israeli trend to impose more settlement realities and Judaize the public space in the city.
The governorate added that establishing a museum for what is called "the heritage of the Israeli military" near the "Ammunition Hill" site represents a systematic attempt to bolster the occupier's narrative and link Palestinian historical sites to the Israeli military narrative.
Ammunition Hill is one of the battles fought by the Jordanian army against Israel, lasting from 2 a.m. until 7 a.m. on June 6, 1967, during which 97 Jordanian soldiers were martyred.
The governorate demanded that the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, take urgent steps to refer Israel to the International Court of Justice if it does not revoke the laws and procedures targeting UNRWA, and restore the assets and properties it seized, asserting that the ongoing international silence towards these violations encourages the occupation authorities to continue their assaults against the international institutions and the Palestinian people in Jerusalem.
Ongoing Incitement
Hebrew sites, including "The Primary Source," detailed the settlement plan targeting the UNRWA headquarters, stating that the Israeli government approved the establishment of the new Israeli military museum and the recruitment office in Jerusalem, in the vacated UNRWA complex in the "Ma'alot Dafna" neighborhood.
The decision was made during a special government meeting held today, Sunday, on "Jerusalem Day," during which the government discussed several projects related to Jerusalem, including the decision to support the establishment of a new military museum, setting up an office for the Defense Minister, and relocating the recruitment office in Jerusalem to a new complex near Ammunition Hill.
The extremist right-wing settlement organization "Regavim" expressed its joy over the new plan and went further to incite the demolition of the Qalandiya Training College (Qalandiya Vocational Institute) affiliated with UNRWA, which is located behind the separation wall, as reported by Hebrew media.
Euphoria and Official Welcome
Addressing this plan, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that "in a place that was once operational by an entity that became part of the mechanism of terrorism and incitement against Israel, institutions will be established that will enhance Jerusalem, the Israeli military, and the State of Israel."
Meanwhile, Channel 7's Israeli website quoted Building and Housing Minister Haim Katz claiming that the step is "necessary" and that it involves "transferring space previously used by a hostile international body, to preserving the heritage of Israel."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir insisted on involving the Al-Aqsa Mosque in his statement about this new settlement plan, as reported by the same site, saying that "there are many accomplishments in Jerusalem, but the greatest change lies in the Temple Mount; Jews who prayed there were arrested, whereas today, Jews pray, bow, sing, and wave the Israeli flag".
On October 28, 2024, the general assembly of the Knesset approved in the second and third readings two laws that prevent UNRWA from carrying out any activities within "Israeli-controlled areas" and withdraw the privileges and facilities granted to it, prohibiting any official Israeli contact with it.
