Israeli schemes to build major settlement in al-Khalil

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Israeli authorities intended to build a new settlement on a 4000 sq. m area which belongs to Al-rijbi family in the old town of al-Khalil, Peace Now Group revealed."This would be the first new settlement in Hebron since the 1980s, with potentially devastating consequences with respect to Palestinian residents of Hebron," the Israeli group said.The group warned of the Israeli intention to establish another large new settlement in the heart of al-Khalil, at a site known as “the House of Contention,” it will likely take place in the coming days or weeks.Netanyahu declared his intention, last week, to encourage the establishment of a new settlement in Hebron at a site known as “Beit Hamachpela.”The site in question is a large building located inside the built-up area of Hebron, on the road connecting Kiryat Arba (located on Hebron’s periphery) and the Ibrahim Mosque. Settlers have long sought to convince Israeli soldiers to take control of this strategic corridor, with the goal of establishing contiguous Israeli control between the two settlement areas, the group stated./149